Abstract
Introduction: Rehabilitation is an essential part of healthcare along with the promotion of good health, prevention of disease, provision of treatment and palliative care. In many countries, widespread unwarranted variation in the provision and quality of rehabilitation has worsened since the Covid-19 pandemic. Lack of high quality, community-based rehabilitation increases demand for emergency hospital admission and long term care, driving up system costs. Integrated care systems need to understand the case for investing in rehabilitation in all settings and for all who may benefit. A rights based approach is particularly important for older people and people with disabilities who are at risk of being marginalised in access to healthcare. This 90-minute workshop is a collaboration between IFICs Intermediate Care SIG and the UK Community Rehabilitation Alliance.
Objectives and target audience: The interactive workshop will be of interest to policy makers, researchers, advocates, patients, carers and professionals who plan, commission, fund, provide or regulate rehabilitation services. Members of the UK Community Rehabilitation Alliance, people who have received rehabilitation and carers will share current perceptions, experience and expectations of rehabilitation to ensure the session is grounded in lived experience Participation by a wide range of professionals and other voices different countries will offer diverse insights on integrated approaches to rehabilitation and presents an opportunity to identify emerging workforce solutions across the globe.
Format:
Background and introduction to the workshop (30 minutes)
Representatives of Age Scotland, Age NI and Carers UK (Scotland and NI) will present the perspectives of people and informal carers regarding rehabilitation services and discuss the impact on their lives from a lack of access to rehabilitation. Members of the UK Community Rehabilitation Alliance will describe their cross sector, cross country advocacy and outline new Community Rehabilitation Best Practice Standards for development, delivery and monitoring of high-quality person-centred rehabilitation. They will also highlight integrated workforce models that draw on the assets from all sectors and apply digital solutions.
Group discussion per theme (35 minutes)
Participants will be allocated to discussion groups of 6-8 people. Each group will be interdisciplinary with a mix of geographical interest. Each group will discuss current challenges in access to rehabilitation within their local system and opportunities for adopting new solutions, approaches and policies, aligned to the 10 key activities proposed by WHO Rehabilitation 2030. Participants will exchange ideas on adopting person centred, technology enabled and integrated approaches in order to meet best practice standards for community rehabilitation and realise the right to rehabilitation for all who need it, including those whose rehabilitation needs are often marginalised.
Summary of key points and actions from the groups (15 minutes)
Facilitators from each group will summarise solutions to address access, equity and workforce challenges and propose key messages that will influence policy officers, commissioners and providers of rehabilitation services in different systems.
Take home messages (10 minutes)
The final plenary will consider actions that can be taken forward by IFICs Intermediate Care SIG in collaboration with the UK Community Rehabilitation Alliance and other international advocacy and support partnerships.