Much of the history of occupational therapy is associated with the history of the National Health Service (NHS). As the nation celebrates the 50th anniversary of the founding of the NHS on 5 July 1948, it is fitting to reflect on the development of the profession over the past half century and how it has adapted to the many medical, technological, demographic and social changes.
In 1948, the profession comprised a small band of mainly middle-class women, who worked under medical direction with long-stay patients in a hospital setting. In 1998, over 18,000 occupational therapists are state-registered. Having gained degree-entry status practitioners are increasingly self-directed and research-focused, and they work in a wide range of settings with all age-groups: a profession reflecting the ideals of the NHS to provide a service from ‘the cradle to the grave’.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Abel-SmithB (1964) The hospitals 1800–1948. London: Heinemann, 405.
2.
AdamsJ (1997) Beyond the hospital: community and home rehabilitation. British Journal of Occupational Therapy. 60 (7), 325–27.
3.
Blom-CooperL (1989) Occupational therapy: an emerging profession in health care. London: Duckworth.
4.
ColsonJH (1944) The rehabilitation of the injured: occupational therapy. London: Cassell.
5.
ClauerCJWiseKF (1958) Tranquillising drug effects on the schizophrenic patient in occupational therapy. Occupational Therapy, 21 (10), 18–23.
6.
CraikC (1997) Review of the Professions Supplementary to Medicine Act 1960: implications for occupational therapists. British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 60 (7), 305–308.
7.
DHSS (1973) The remedial professions (MacMillan Report). London: HMSO.
8.
DHSS/Scottish Home and Health Department (1972) Statement by the Committee on the Remedial Professions (Chairman Sir Ronald Tunbridge). London: HMSO.
9.
EakinPBallingerCNicolMWalkerMAlsopAllottI (1997) College of Occupational Therapists: Research and development strategy. British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 60 (11), 484–86.
10.
FooteNFosterM (1998) 50 years of occupational therapy education in Derby. Occupational Therapy News, 6 (1), 19.
11.
FultonMB (1958) Address delivered to Opening Meeting. Scottish Journal of Occupational Therapy, 32, 8–12.
12.
FultonMB (1965) Obituary: Sir David Henderson. Scottish Journal of Occupational Therapy, 61, 2–3.
13.
GageM (1995) Re-engineering of health care: opportunity or threat for occupational therapists?Canadian Journal of Occupational Therapy, 62 (4), 197–206.
14.
GroveM (1970) Growth of home services for the handicapped in a great city. Occupational Therapy, 3 (33), 17–23.
15.
HarrisACoxESmithC (1971) Handicapped and impaired in Great Britain. London: HMSO.
16.
HaworthNMacdonaldEM (1946) The theory of occupational therapy. London: Baillière, Tindall and Cox.
17.
Joint Council of Associations of Occupational Therapists in Great Britain (1962) Code of Ethics and Rules of Professional Conduct. Scottish Journal of Occupational Therapy, 49, 23–24.
18.
LarkinG (1993) The emergence of para-medical professions. In: BynumWPorterR.Companion encyclopaedia of the history of medicine. London: Routledge.
19.
MacdonaldEM (1957a) History of the Association, chapter V, 1945/46-1949. Occupational Therapy, 20 (7), 20–22.
20.
MacdonaldEM (1957b) History of the Association, chapter IV, 1942/45. Occupational Therapy, 20 (6), 30–33.
21.
MacdonaldEM, ed (1970) Occupational therapy in rehabilitation. London: Baillière, Tindall and Cassell.
22.
Ministry of Health/Department of Health for Scotland (1951) Reports of the Committees on Medical Auxiliaries (The Cope Report). London: HMSO.
23.
MitchellHJonesD (1997) Homelessness: a review of the social policy background and the role of occupational therapy. British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 60 (7), 315–19.
