OT Show 2019

A number of companies in the industry have reported enjoying success at this year’s OT Show, including showcasing new products, delivering educational seminars and engaging with occupational therapists at the annual OT exhibition.

Held on the 27th and 28th November 2019, the OT Show sees thousands of occupational therapists from across the UK visit Birmingham’s NEC to attend CPD courses on a range of topics, alongside discover the latest innovations and information from the world of mobility, adaptations and assistive technology.

This year saw a wide range of companies exhibit in the hopes of grabbing the attention of OTs, with many highlighting that attending the show proved valuable.

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Adding value to visitors through CPD

Approaching the show with an educational focus, Theraposture, Abacus, Etac R82 and Driving Mobility offered a range of seminars as a means of attracting healthcare professionals on to their stands.

At the Theraposture stand, Shaun Masters, Occupational Therapist and Theraposture Trusted Assessor, provided a compelling series of practical sessions entitled ‘Getting legs into bed’.

Content-focused on reducing carers intervention and maximising independence for users and presentations included the Theracare leg lifter, a Theraposture double combination adjustable bed and the new the Rotoflex 235 Low, enabling OTs to see a range of options to ensure clients can remain at home on their own terms.

Theraposture OT Show
Theraposture’s Liam Braddell, Sales Director; Shaun Masters, OT and Trusted Assessor; and Steve Keetley, Trusted Assessor on stand

“I hope my peers found the educational sessions as rewarding as I did – especially in terms of discussing clinical outcomes and the latest thinking regarding bed transfers,” commented Shaun.

“The new Rotoflex 235 Low was a key part of my seminars as its ultra-low capabilities and powered rising heel section offer a new dimension in ergonomic support. The show now provides a platform for us to expand our educational workshops and training programmes so more OTs can enhance everyday practice and reduce strain on care budgets.”

Boasting its most spacious stand ever designed to provide a welcoming environment for education and demonstrations, Etac R82 ran CPD-accredited manual handling seminars to reach OTs.

Presentations were hosted by the Swedish company’s range of in-house product specialists and therapists and included ‘Sit-to-Stand – Early Mobilisation’ by Ole Lindahl Thy, Etac International Education Manager; ‘In-bed Systems – Single Handed Care Techniques and Tips’ by Anette Repenning Raun, Etac International Product Manager; ‘The Importance of choosing the right spreader bars with an Overhead Hoist’ by Colin Williams, Category Sales Manager; and ‘Swift Mobil 2 – reducing the costs of special shower chairs’ by Jo McConnell, OT and Etac Education Manager.

Etac OT Show
Members of the Etac education team: Tove Filipsson, Education Manager; Ole Lindahl Thy, Etac International Education Manager; and Jo McConnell, OT and Etac Education Manage

Jon Preater, Managing Director, Etac R82 in the UK, commented: “It was a pleasure to see so many professionals, peers and contacts benefiting from our educational programme at the OT Show. Our new larger stand facilitated engaged learning and the opportunity to understand more fully why Etac products provide better outcomes in appropriate scenarios. We will be delivering even more added value to our brands in 2020.”

Continuing the trend of education and development to add value to visitors’ show experience, Driving Mobility, the charity that accredits a network of specialist driving assessment centres, also used CPD approved education and advice to highlight its range of services to OTs.

Represented by William Merritt Disabled Living Centre and RDAC, members within the national charities nationwide network, the show saw Driving Mobility provide a series of educational seminars entitled ‘Medical Fitness to Drive – maintaining independent mobility’ to OTs.

Outlining how Driving Mobility assessments check client physical and cognitive abilities with a view to driving a vehicle safely and in comfort, the seminars, delivered by Philip North, Senior OT from the William Merritt Disabled Living Centre, were well attended with over 150 attendees recorded on day one.

Driving Mobility OT Show
Driving Mobility’s David Blythe, General Manager; Fern Wickham Warwick, Marketing and Promotions Co-ordinator; and Philip North OT – from the William Merritt Disabled Living Centre

David Blythe, Manager of the William Merritt Disabled Living Centre, commented: ” Delegates were able to reflect on the role of occupational therapy within driving and consider many practical elements associated with cognitive ability. We have already begun planning our 2020 exhibition schedule so more professionals can understand how we successfully signpost clients to positive outcomes.”

New and award-winning products

In addition to sharing valuable educational content with OTs, a number of companies used the opportunity to introduce new products to healthcare professionals.

Displaying an extensive selection of examples, the Sweden-headquartered multinational showcased Etac, R82, Molift, Immedia, Convaid, Star brands from across mobility, seating, sit-to-stand transfers, hoisting, in-bed management, toileting, bathing and independent living categories.

This year’s OT Show also saw Abacus Specialist Bathroom Solutions presented with the Excellence in Caring Award for its Gemini 2000 hi-lo, a larger and longer version of the original Gemini bath.

Abacus OT Show Award
The Abacus team: Regional Assessment Managers Duncan Latimer (North) and David Bertorelli (South and West), Sales and Marketing Manager Andy Williams and Regional Assessment Manager Bob Gibbs (South and East).

The new power-assisted bath with variable height and integrated platform was introduced in 2019 and boasts a two-metre-long bathing space to support a wider range of adult and paediatric care needs.

Following its nomination by the exhibition organisers, the judging panel visited the Abacus stand at the show and was given a product demonstration by David Bertorelli, Abacus Regional Assessment Manager.

Abacus’ success was announced at the end of day one during the exhibitor drinks reception with Andy Williams, Abacus Sales and Marketing Manager receiving the award on behalf of the brand.

Andy commented: “This accolade is testament to the dedication of all our team – from R&D and manufacturing through to assessment managers and consultant OTs. I would like to thank them for all their hard work and also congratulate the OT Show on delivering another exceptional event. This award now provides the perfect platform for us to increase awareness of the Gemini 2000 with a view to helping more disabled individuals experience safe bathing and all its associated benefits.”

Rising above the crowd

Using the show as a means of raising its brand exposure amongst occupational therapists, alongside providing valuable information and advice, Stiltz used a rather unique idea to stand out above the competition.

Stiltz OT Show team
The Stiltz team, with eye-catching ‘Stiltz walkers’, experienced greater brand familiarity from healthcare professionals attending 2019 OT Show

Living up to its name, eye-catching Stiltz-branded stilt walkers signposted visitors to the homelift specialist’s stand, alongside providing information regarding Disabled Facilities Grants, free CPD training and the homelifts themselves.

Building on its recent brand exposure garnered from its DIY SOS, delegates welcomed to the Stiltz stand were introduced to the two-person Duo and three-person/wheelchair Trio homelifts and informed how the shaft-free solutions remove the need to relocate or incur costly building adaptations, enabling OTs’ clients to remain living independently in their own homes.

Gino Farruggio, Stiltz UK Trade Sales Director, commented: “As we proactively seek to work with OTs, HIAs and Case Managers, it was clearly evident at this year’s show that more professionals are aware of our homelifts and why they provide a better solution for community independence.

“We are proud of our client-centric approach which is clinically driven to ensure appropriate products are installed within every scenario. When you consider the severe lack of cost-effective residential care, shortage of bungalows and the upheaval of ground floor adaptations or extensions, our product range offers a simple cost-effective alternative. Future-proofed community inclusion and enablement is our objective, which we will continue to deliver through a focused understanding of end-user needs.

“We look forward to fulfilling all the assessment requests we received at the NEC and presenting further CPD education in 2020.”

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https://thiis.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/OT-Show-2019.jpghttps://thiis.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/OT-Show-2019-150x150.jpgCalvin BarnettNewsroomSupplier NewsTrade Newsabacus,access,Driving Mobility,Education,educational seminars,Etac R82,Gemini 2000,independent living,Mobility,NEC,Occupational Therapists,OT,OT Show,Rotoflex,Shaun Masters,Stiltz,Theraposture,trainingA number of companies in the industry have reported enjoying success at this year’s OT Show, including showcasing new products, delivering educational seminars and engaging with occupational therapists at the annual OT exhibition. Held on the 27th and 28th November 2019, the OT Show sees thousands of occupational therapists from...News, views & products for mobility, access and independent living professionals