Celebrating our Allied Health Professionals - Introducing Franchesca Russell, Occupational Therapist

To mark Allied Health Professionals’ (AHPs) Day on Monday 14 October, we are celebrating some of our AHP colleagues who make up the third largest workforce in the NHS.

Here at Medway we employ Dietitians, Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists, Dietetic Assistants, Therapy Assistants, Operating Department Practitioners (ODPs) and Radiographers, plus one Speech and Language Therapist in neonates.

Introducing Franchesca Russell, Occupational Therapist

“I work in the Therapies Department and I am currently on rotation to Orthopaedics.

“I joined Medway as a Physiotherapy Assistant in 2009. I qualified in 2024 after completing the Occupational Therapy Apprenticeship.

“My role involves helping patients to be as independent as possible and live their lives to the fullest. I work in a team with physiotherapists and dieticians.

Franchesca Russell, Occupational Therapist

“I work with patients who have sustained a fracture due to a traumatic injury, usually a fall, this alters their functional ability. I help them to carry out daily activities such as washing, dressing, going to the toilet and leisure activities.

“My focus is to find out what is important to each person, so I spend time getting to know them and in many cases their families too.

“I use my skills to understand what each person wants to achieve, understand the barriers they face help them to achieve their goals by providing equipment, assessing care needs, preventing a decline in their strength and function, and supporting them to leave hospital.

“I have worked with some amazing Occupational Therapists who have inspired me to want to empower patients to overcome their difficulties so that they can live as independently as possible and improve their quality of life.

“I love that the work I do as it is tailored specifically to each person.

“If you are an empathetic, compassionate person, who enjoys problem solving and being creative, this is the career for you.

“The Occupational Therapy apprenticeship is a fantastic way to get into the profession as it allows you study whilst having on the job training and earn an income.”

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Dr Jaroslaw Beta, who is known to colleagues and service users as Jarek, holds baby Jarek who is named after him. Mum Lauren Davies is pictured next to them.

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