Emma Foley

Qualifications

BSc (Hons) Occupational Therapy

Specialisms

Physical Disabilities, General Medicine & Surgery, Orthopaedic Conditions, Care of the Elderly.

Introduction

I qualified as an Occupational Therapist in 2012 from Sheffield Hallam University. I initially gained experience in trauma and orthopaedics, respiratory, care of the elderly and stroke/neuro rehabilitation. In 2015, I worked within vascular surgery, treating amputee's immediately following surgery and being involved in their discharge to ensure they had the equipment and adaptations required. I also gained additional knowledge on wheelchair prescription, and referred for prosthetic limbs, and set rehabilitation goals.

In August 2020, I was successful in the role as Team lead for the medical and older people wards. I treated conditions, including but not exhaustive of, dementia, Parkinson's, gastrointestinal conditions, diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), frailty, cancer, and patients that have been injured following a fall and have sustained a fractured neck of femur, as well as other orthopaedic injuries. Many of my clinical cases required an assessment related to 'falls prevention' which regularly occur within the healthcare of older people, especially for patients experiencing dementia and various other co-morbidities. My current role is Team lead for all inpatient wards at a hospital in South Wales. Within this role we triage and allocate cases to therapists, and comprehensively assess and provide holistic treatment plans to adults admitted in the following specialities: trauma and orthopaedics, vascular surgery, general medicine, health care of older people, surgery and stroke patients.

I have excellent clinical skills, and can treat complex patients, and establish therapy goals I am able to assess patients with a variety of conditions. I work collaboratively with the MDT, to treat patients to ensure that their therapy goals, and discharge plans are met and executed to the highest standard. I also have a lot of experience assessing and treating patients in their home environment and make recommendations for equipment and adaptations for them to live more independently. These assessments include functional assessments of their activities of daily living, mobility/transfer assessments, mental capacity assessments (if indicated), cognitive screening, and comprehensive falls assessments. The majority of the patients that I treat have extensive past medical histories, therefore it is crucial that I ensure my information gathering of their past medical history and presenting conditions are thorough and that I look at their situation holistically and take into account any medical and environmental factors that could led to their admission. Within my role I assist with the management of the team, ensuring that they are up to date with mandatory and service training, roster shifts, manage delivery of competencies, service development and deal with complaints. I have had the opportunity to undertake a substantial amount of work around service development and auditing and have presented my current project at the 'Allied Healthcare Professional day', to which members of the executive board and other managers were present.

I accept instructions from both claimant and defendant solicitors and insurers. I have undergone formal training in the medico-legal process and am fully aware of my responsibilities under Civil Procedure Rules (CPR) pertaining to expert witnesses.