The OT Practice, an occupational therapy provider, has released a unique and in-depth analysis and insight into the state of the occupational therapy (OT) waiting lists across the UK.

Titled ‘Ending Occupational Therapy Waiting Lists: 2nd Edition’, the whitepaper highlights a 139 percent increase in waiting lists for OT services across the UK since 2019.

Now, The OT Practice is calling on councils and the NHS to implement cost-effective strategies to address growing demand.

The whitepaper scrutinises the impact of collaboration between the public and independent sectors, analysing what can be learned from the approach organisations have taken to managing their waiting lists, whether it is using in-house teams, Section 75 NHS outsourcing, or independent providers. It presents an urgent call to reduce the financial strain of delayed care.

Authored by OT experts Dr. Jo Watson and Michael Guthrie, the report follows extensive Freedom of Information (FOI) requests with responses from over 90 percent of the councils responsible for adult and children social care. The paper combines the data from the FOI requests with case studies, detailing the human and financial impact of long waiting lists on individuals and caregivers.

Findings reveal that these delays lead to increased hospital admissions, compromised independence, and greater reliance on long-term care services; these consequences significantly heighten care costs. The report calls for integrated approaches that reduce costs and alleviate pressure on local social care and NHS resources.

A headline finding from the whitepaper is that there has been a sharp increase in OT waiting lists. The number of people waiting for OT services has more than doubled, reaching over 96,000 and with prolonged waiting times now averaging 4.6 months for adults, impacting council budgets and NHS resources.

The report also found that there is unused budget potential in many cases. By reallocating funds from vacant OT roles, this could help clear the OT backlog in England. This would allow councils to better utilise existing funds without requiring additional budget allocations.

Furthermore, the whitepaper shows that delays in OT services contribute to increased hospital admissions, loss of independence, and higher long-term care needs, placing additional strain on NHS and social care budgets.

In addition, the findings show that councils that have partnered with independent OT providers have reduced waiting lists more quickly and cost-effectively, with up to a 50 percent reduction in per-case costs compared to in-house management.

The paper considers the options available to councils and presents the question on what the best model is to meet their needs in the short and long term, taking into consideration how councils can reduce backlogs efficiently, improving timely access to OT services while conserving resources.

“Our whitepaper reveals that the current approach to OT waiting lists is neither financially sustainable nor effective in meeting demand,” said Nikki Thompson, Executive Director at The OT Practice. “By implementing innovative partnerships, councils and the NHS can address waiting lists more strategically, saving both time and resources.”

For more information and a copy of the full report, email nikki@theotpractice.co.uk or call 0330 024 9910.

ADASS’ recent Autumn Survey 2024 revealed that 81 percent of councils expect to overspend their adult social care budgets this year, with an estimated total overspend of £564 million.