Name: Jessica Thurston

Position (specialist area): HCPC Registered Occupational Therapist – MSC, BSC (HONS), COT

Contact details: info@pacerehab.com Tel: 01494 790490

Location: Based at Amersham (Bucks)

Career: Jessica qualified as an Occupational Therapist in 1994. This qualification was followed up by an MSc in Occupational Therapy with distinction in 2002.

She is currently the medico-legal services Manager and Senior Consultant at Somek and Associates, a company specialising in the provision of expert witnesses.

Between 2005 and January 2010, Jessica was the Clinical Effectiveness Lead Occupational Therapist (Deputy Head of Service) at The Royal Free Hospital, London. She was additionally the Clinical Specialist Occupational Therapist for the Musculoskeletal and Amputee Service and as such held a large clinical caseload and provided clinical advice internally and externally to the trust on complex case management for amputees. She chaired the Amputee Steering Development Group for the Trust. She is currently undertaking a Postgraduate Certificate in Amputee Rehabilitation at the University of Bradford.

In 2002 Jessica attained an MSc with distinction in Occupational Therapy and in 2003 gave a paper presentation at the College of Occupational Therapists annual conference about the management of the elderly patient within the acute hospital setting. She is currently responsible for the education and training needs of her staff as well as the development of the services provided. She frequently runs seminars for staff on topics such occupational therapy in the management of the musculoskeletal and amputee management, and has been a supervisor of occupational therapy students for many years.

Employment History:

Prior to moving to the Royal Free Hospital, Jessica was the Associate Manager of Occupational Therapy Services at Addenbrooke’s NHS Trust, Cambridge, where she also held a large clinical caseload.

Between 2001 and 2004 she was team leader/senior 1 Occupational Therapist for the Department of Medicine for the Elderly, at Addenbrooke’s Hospital and prior to that she was working as the Specialist Therapist, in the Disablement Services Centre, working with upper and lower limb amputees providing pre-prosthetic and prosthetic rehabilitation for patients of all ages (including limb deficient children). She has worked extensively in the areas of acute general surgery, trauma and orthopaedics and the Accident and Emergency department.

Between 1999 and 2001 Jessica worked as an Occupational Therapy Instructor in the Occupational Therapy Department in Fukuoka Rehabilitation Hospital (mainly involving neurological conditions) in Japan, and in association with Kyudai Medical Centre in Japan also held the post of research therapist.

Prior to this Jessica gained experience in the field of neurology, involving management of patients with stroke and brain injury following multiple trauma. In elderly medicine she was require to undertake cognitive assessment and risk analysis in relation to patients with dementia.

She has written many reports for medico-legal purposes, being instructed by Claimant, Defendant and as a Single Joint Expert. She has given oral evidence in court and has been highly recommended by both Claimant and Defendant lawyers and counsel.

Courses & Presentations:

In 2003 Jessica gave a paper presentation at the College of Occupational Therapists annual conference about the management of the elderly patient within the acute hospital setting.

Publications/Research:

Jessica has written a book “Driving after Amputation: A guide for patients and healthcare professionals”. This was published in 1998 by the Ex-serviceman’s Association (BLESMA) in association with Banstead Mobility Centre and members of the Upper and Lower Limb Prosthetic Occupational Therapy Groups and continues to be in circulation.

Qualifications:

Jessica is a Health Professions Council (HPC) Registered Occupational Therapist, graduating at St Andrew’s school of occupational therapy, Northampton (1991-1994). She obtained an MSc with distinction in Occupational Therapy from St Loye’s School of Health Studies in 2002.

Memberships:

Jessica is a member of:-

• The British Association of Occupational Therapists: Occupational Therapists in Independent Practice

• British Association of Occupational Therapists: Occupational Therapists in Orthopaedics & Trauma, Orthotic/Prosthetic Specialist Section

• BACPAR

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