A HEALTH team in Bolton are being 'loud and proud' for a week celebrating their occupation.

Staff at Bolton Hospice have been taking part in Occupational Therapy Week.

This year's theme is “I am an Occupational Therapist” and has called upon all occupational therapists to be ‘loud and proud’ of the value they add to the lives of hundreds of thousands of people every week.

The hospice team provides therapy to patients at both its inpatient and day units, as well as providing home visits.

Palliative care occupational therapist Debra Jones said: "The therapy team here at Bolton Hospice aim to increase our patients’ ability to carry out day to day tasks, to keep their independence and help them to cope with their condition.

"This can be through self-management strategies for anxiety or fatigue, rehabilitation including exercise programmes, moving and handling advice, equipment assessment and assessment for and provision of splints, collars, specialist seating and wheelchairs."

Occupational Therapists have been described as the health and care system’s 'secret weapon' and are the only registered profession qualified to work across mental and physical health and in NHS and social care settings.