Rachael Bamford

Rachael Bamford

Hand Specialist

Qualification

Our Hand specialist Rachael graduated with a BSc (Hons) in Occupational Therapy from the University of Southampton in 2002 and has been employed within the NHS throughout her career to date. Rachael has always been committed to applying the most up-to-date evidence to her practice and went on to carry out an MSc in Health Services Research, graduating from the University of Nottingham in 2008. Since 2004, Rachael has specialised in Orthopaedic conditions, more specifically in those involving the hand and wrist, and following extensive post-graduate training and assessment, became an Accredited Hand Therapist (British Association of Hand Therapists) in 2014. Rachael is registered with the HCPC and in addition to Private practice, she is also an Advanced Hand Practitioner for the NHS. hand specialist

Approach

As an Occupational Therapist, Rachael possesses a specialised set of skills which view symptoms and conditions of the hand through a lens of how these might limit an individual’s participation in their everyday activities. This means that advice can be provided on how to approach these activities differently to enable you to continue the things you need to do in your daily life, whilst reducing the impact of your condition on the use of your hand. Rachael has extensive knowledge and experience in therapy management of a wide variety of both traumatic and elective conditions of the hand. As a hand therapist, Rachael also draws on an extended scope of skills, including those more traditionally used by Physiotherapists, to enable a complete treatment plan to be tailored to a client’s individual symptoms, treatment goals, and everyday activities. This might involve education and advice, exercise prescription, recommending appropriate splints or braces, scar or swelling management advice, or hands-on mobilisation.

Clinical interest

Rachael has skills and knowledge in treating many hand conditions, including trigger finger, carpal tunnel syndrome, osteoarthritis, tendon pain, wrist pain, stiffness, or scarring from previous trauma. Rachael regularly leads or takes part in Continuing Professional Development to ensure her clinical skills remain up to date, such as local training events, hand therapy network meetings, and national conferences.

Qualification
Our Hand specialist Rachael graduated with a BSc (Hons) in Occupational Therapy from the University of Southampton in 2002 and has been employed within the NHS throughout her career to date. Rachael has always been committed to applying the most up-to-date evidence to her practice and went on to carry out an MSc in Health Services Research, graduating from the University of Nottingham in 2008. Since 2004, Rachael has specialised in Orthopaedic conditions, more specifically in those involving the hand and wrist, and following extensive post-graduate training and assessment, became an Accredited Hand Therapist (British Association of Hand Therapists) in 2014. Rachael is registered with the HCPC and in addition to Private practice, she is also an Advanced Hand Practitioner for the NHS. hand specialist
Approach
As an Occupational Therapist, Rachael possesses a specialised set of skills which view symptoms and conditions of the hand through a lens of how these might limit an individual’s participation in their everyday activities. This means that advice can be provided on how to approach these activities differently to enable you to continue the things you need to do in your daily life, whilst reducing the impact of your condition on the use of your hand. Rachael has extensive knowledge and experience in therapy management of a wide variety of both traumatic and elective conditions of the hand. As a hand therapist, Rachael also draws on an extended scope of skills, including those more traditionally used by Physiotherapists, to enable a complete treatment plan to be tailored to a client’s individual symptoms, treatment goals, and everyday activities. This might involve education and advice, exercise prescription, recommending appropriate splints or braces, scar or swelling management advice, or hands-on mobilisation.
Clinical interest
Rachael has skills and knowledge in treating many hand conditions, including trigger finger, carpal tunnel syndrome, osteoarthritis, tendon pain, wrist pain, stiffness, or scarring from previous trauma. Rachael regularly leads or takes part in Continuing Professional Development to ensure her clinical skills remain up to date, such as local training events, hand therapy network meetings, and national conferences.