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Information on Allied Health Professionals

Allied health professionals play a very important role in protecting and improving our health and well-being. They include people like physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech and language therapists and dietitians.

What are allied health professionals?

Allied health professionals (AHPs) work with all age groups to help people to:

  • improve movement or mobility
  • overcome visual problems
  • improve nutritional status
  • develop communication skills
  • restore confidence in everyday living skills

AHPs work in many different areas including hospitals, people’s homes, clinics, surgeries and schools.

Physiotherapists

Physiotherapists are experts in movement, from the way we move our backs or limbs, to the way we breathe. Physiotherapists work to restore movement, mobility and activity, and to prevent illness and injury so that people can be as independent as possible and remain in work.

Occupational therapists

Occupational therapists treat and rehabilitate people with physical and mental health conditions. They use specially selected activities to help people who are temporarily or permanently disabled to be as independent as possible.

Speech and language therapists

Speech and language therapists provide services to help children and adults who have difficulty communicating. This includes making speech sounds, understanding spoken language and the appropriate use of language and sounds. They also work with people who have a specific difficulty, such as a stammer. Therapists also treat people who have difficulties feeding, chewing and swallowing.

Dietitians

Dietitians make sure that people with certain conditions are getting the right nutrition from the food that they eat. Diet is very important in the treatment of many conditions such as diabetes, coeliac disease, malnutrition, renal disease and some children’s conditions.

Dietitians work to educate patients to make the best food choices to be able to manage their condition and make sure their nutritional needs are met.