MORE patients will be home for Christmas this year thanks to the work of occupational therapists at Princess Margaret Hospital.

Every year staff at the occupational therapy department at PMH try to get as many people as possible home for Christmas.

On a day to day basis occupational therapists help to bridge the gap between patients being in hospital and going home.

Senior occupational therapist, Deborah Lowe, said: "Mainly what we are concerned with is looking at how disability and illness has stopped people doing what they would normally do in life.

"And we look at what needs to be done to enable people to regain day to day skills and be mobile around the home.

"This may involve providing certain equipment or advise on home care."

Occupational therapists cover all the wards at PMH and also cover Accident and Emergency.

Mrs Lowe said: "When we cover accident and emergency, the idea is to prevent unnecessary hospital admission. For example, if someone comes into A&E who has had a fall, we will try and assess whey they have fallen whether it is medical or because of a torn rug in the home."

"Even if the person hasn't broken anything, the fall may have knocked their confidence."