And this year, for national Allied Health Profession (AHP) Day, the focus is on celebrating the next generation of people training to join the second largest UK healthcare workforce and the life-changing impacts they will have on patient care and health in their careers.

There are 14 different disciplines in the AHP family and Oxford Health has eight of them embedded in its mental health, children’s services, specialised services and community health settings across Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Wiltshire, Bath and North East Somerset.

These include podiatrists, dietitians, occupational therapists, paramedics, physiotherapists, art therapists, music therapists and speech and language therapists.

This year Oxford Health has given placements to 243 student AHPs – up 58% on the previous year.

Dr Nick Broughton, CEO of Oxford Health, said: “I am really pleased to get behind this celebration of Allied Health Professions and those who are devoting themselves to joining such a valuable workforce.

“The students we are talking about now are the future and I am committed to ensuring that Oxford Health is a great place for AHP students to gain experience and to give them the inspiration they need to excel.”

Work of AHPs goes social

Oxford Health will be tweeting throughout the day on @OxfordhealthNHS and by following them and seeking out the hashtag #AHPsDay you’ll be able find out more about the world of AHPs locally and throughout the UK.

All of Oxford Health’s AHP services are delivering top quality and vital help to patients under strict COVID-19 secure conditions. Some that you will hear from on the day are operating almost on a business-as-usual basis while others will show how they have changed how they operate to keep the show on the road.

Rebecca Henley, Head of Allied Health Professionals Workforce, said: “There is so much talent in the services that we provide and our Allied Health Professionals are pivotal in enabling recovery and enhancing the lives of so many people.

“Keeping the flow of new people into the professions is vital and that is why we are so pleased this year to showcase the students who are working so hard to be the AHPs of the future.

“We want to make sure, through this special day, that all our AHPs get some time in the spotlight and awareness of the work they do is raised.”

If you want to find out more about opportunities in the Allied Health Professions, take a look at this page.