Wish you were here
How occupational therapy helps speed up the road to recovery
TOURISM chiefs across Europe are calling on Brits to splash the cash and travel to save their summers. Towns and cities across France, Spain and Portugal are begging for British tourists to return, as the Continent reopens to visitors after months of lockdown. With the UK Government due to announce the countries it has struck air bridge deals with on Wednesday, hoteliers, mayors and industry chiefs are begging Brits to return to holiday hotspots this summer. Scottish ministers say they have not yet taken a decision on easing restrictions on holiday travel, despite the moves from Westminster. The UK Government has powers over border controls but health protection issues on overseas travel must be supported by Holyrood because health is a devolved matter. The Scottish Government said it had expected four-nation talks to be held before any announcement was made. And Holyrood Ministers – who are expected to follow the new guidelines – have said they needed to be satisfied arrangements to be put in place were “right for Scotland and properly supported by Scottish legislation”. Westminster officials have yet to confirm which countries will form part of the air bridge system but Belgium, France Germany, Greece, Spain and Italy are expected to be included. A recent spike in Covid-19 infections in Portugal have ruled it out for the time being and there is uncertainty around Croatia, Turkey and Malta.
But Algarve industry chiefs in southern Portugal are pleading for our return. Eliderico Viegas, president of the Algarve’s Association for Hotels and Tourism, said: “The British are our main market. We are counting on them to rise to this new challenge and new opportunity.”
And hoteliers in hard-hit Spain, who had swathes of cancellations due to the crisis, are urging Brits to fly out. The country is the most popular destination for Brits, with almost 16million spending their holidays there each year.
Expat Robert Webster, 52, runs Hotel Arce in Baiona, Galicia, northwest Spain.
Robert, from Cheltenham, said: “We have one message to British tourists – you can have a fantastic holiday, so get over here to Spain. People are genuinely excited to be opening their doors again. The past few months have been tough.”
Britain’s largest independent travel agent yesterday reported a “flurry” of people booking foreign holidays. Hays Travel said the air bridge plan has sparked the uptake. Owner Irene Hays said: “Since the news broke, the phones have just not stopped ringing. It has been remarkable.”
TUI, Britain’s biggest tour operator, said air bridges would “save summer”.
Under the Government’s trafficlight air bridge system, countries will be rated green, amber or red, depending on the prevalence of coronavirus. The Government’s 14-day quarantine will be axed for any countries rated green or amber.
But Home Secretary Priti Patel yesterday warned: “These measures won’t come in overnight. They will take time because some of this will be down to negotiation, discussion with certain countries.”
Tour operators and airlines have already launched a price war to woo travellers. Offers include all-inclusive seven-night stays for two adults and two children at four-star hotels with reductions of up to £1795. Airline easyJet, which will resume flights on Wednesday, has 300,000 seats for £29.99 up for grabs on selected routes.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s ban on non-essential travel is expected to be lifted in the coming days to allow those using air bridges to get travel insurance.
A spokesperson for travel industry body ABTA said: “Confirmation of the list of countries is eagerly anticipated by the travel industry, and should encourage customers to book.
“The blanket Foreign Office advice against all but essential travel is still a major impediment to travel, however, and we look forward to the Government adopting a similar riskbased approach to that advice.”
But the first air bridge flights are not expected to be given the all clear to take off until July 4 when pubs, restaurants and hairdressers finally reopen.
OCCUPATIONAL therapists have never been in such demand as they try to cope with the tide of Covid-19 patients suffering the ravaging effects of the virus. More than 18,000 Scots have been diagnosed with coronavirus and a large proportion will have ongoing problems for many months after the acute symptoms have eased. Even those who have had a milder form of Covid-19 may struggle with fatigue. Shona Ballentyne, 39, is an occupational therapist who has returned to the clinical side of her profession from a role in practice management because of the increased demand for OT expertise. Ballentyne, who is based at Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley, said: “It is still unknown how long people will take to recover. Even younger people are affected with this for longer.” Breathing difficulties, fatigue, balance issues, cognitive impairment, delirium and short-term memory problems are among many issues people struggle with when the immediate threat to life has passed.
Ballentyne said: “When we hear of someone recovering medically. it just relates to the risky phase but the impact on mobility and anxiety may still be there.
“Patients are happy when they are out of the woods but getting back on their feet will take a lot longer.”
Rehabilitation often starts by simply getting a patient out of bed. Then the real work begins in preparing a patient for home and helping them to achieve things in their life which matter to them.”
It could be as basic as being able to go to the toilet unaided, making a cup of tea or cooking a meal.
The OT added: “Some people have mental health difficulties and anxiety because they have been isolated from their family in hospital. There are not many people around them and those who are around are wearing PPE. For me, wearing PPE is one of the bigger barriers because you normally have a smile or an expression, which is lost, and those who rely to an extent on lip-reading struggle. That can have a lasting impact.”
Modern technology has helped keep families in touch and OTs have been using FaceTime for virtual visiting as well as using similar tech to view patients’ homes to make preparations for their discharge.
OTs only see Covid patients who have been in hospital or have been referred but work on a three Ps principle – pace, plan, prioritise.
Ballentyne said: “It is important not to try to do everything at once.
“Get up out of bed and have a rest because even getting out of bed for some people can be exhausting. Have breakfast and rest. Take a shower and rest. The key is to organise yourself and prioritise.”
She added: “With this virus, we have all been thrown in the deep end. But we are all learning to swim. I don’t think we are at the point yet of fully understanding it.”