Trust hosts its annual AHP Community of Practice Forum

AHPs Community of Practice Forum, 13th October 2025 at Dowty Sports and Social, Down Hatherley, Gloucester/

As part of this year’s National Allied Health Professions Day celebrations (14 October), our Trust held its third annual AHP Community of Practice Forum yesterday at Dowty Sports and Social Club in Down Hatherley, Gloucester.

Hosted by Chief Allied Health Professional Sarah Birmingham, the event was well attended by Allied Health Professionals, Health and Exercise Practitioners and AHP Support Workers working across the Trust in clinical, leadership, educational and management roles.

Following welcomes and introductions from our Trust’s Chief Executive Douglas Blair, and Director of Therapies and Quality, Nicola Hazle, attendees enjoyed talks and presentations by a number of speakers, including Musculoskeletal Practitioner Tanya Wellington, Art Psychotherapist Ali Coles, Occupational Therapist Liz Lawler and physiotherapist Gina Tingle.

Non-Executive Director Vicci Livingstone-Thompson, CEO of Inclusion Gloucestershire, gave a really interesting talk on ‘The Importance of Inclusion and Inclusion Gloucestershire’s Values’. This was followed by Consultant Occupational Therapist Mel Reed, who was delighted to introduce colleagues to the Trust’s newly-launched AHP Action Framework and Toolkit for Identifying, Tackling and Reducing Health Inequalities.

The Forum concluded with a presentation from Ambassador for Carer Practice, Cathy Newman.

About the AHP Community of Practice Forum

The AHP Community of Practice Forum is a space where AHPs and AHP Support Workers can connect, share updates and communications, and take time to showcase good practice and celebrate their achievements and successes.

The Forum is open to all AHPs, Health and Exercise Practitioners and AHP Support Workers working in the Trust in clinical, leadership, educational and management roles.

 

AHPs with their pledges for National AHPs Day.

Each AHP at yesterday’s Forum was invited to complete the ‘My AHPs Day Pledge’ card. Here are just a few of them.

It’s Occupational Therapy Week!

It’s Occupational Therapy Week!

Today marks the start of Occupational Therapy Week (3-9 November) – an opportunity to celebrate and highlight the role occupational therapy has in people’s recovery and management of their health conditions. 

Half-term flu clinics for children and students

Half-term flu clinics for children and students

Our School Aged Immunisation team will be running flu clinics at community venues across Gloucestershire during the half-term holiday (27-31 October) for those children who do not wish to receive their flu vaccination at school, have missed it due to absence, are home schooled or not in mainstream education.

Parents urged to protect their children this flu season

Parents urged to protect their children this flu season

As we enter the 2025-2026 flu season, the School Aged Immunisation team at Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust is reminding parents and carers of the importance of protecting their children against the virus by ensuring they have their flu vaccination.

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