Barbara Franks (BSc Hons Occupational Therapist, Royal College of Occupational Therapists with the Health Care Professions Council, Reg No: OT28759) is a fully qualified occupational therapist and expert witness. Barbara worked for the NHS until 2016 before setting up independently as a private occupational therapist and expert witness. These roles involve assessing clients and making recommendations to enable them to lead as independent a life as their condition allows.
Barbara has worked in a variety of different roles but mainly with adults in a community rehabilitation setting in East Yorkshire. This involved assessing clients with a variety of different conditions, including, but not limited to, Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinsons’ Disease, MND, stroke, orthopaedic conditions, falls and chronic pain. As the senior occupational therapist within her team, she had the lead on more complex cases and championed the need for improved funding for specialist seating in her local area.
Since leaving the NHS she is able to recommend a wider variety of aids and equipment to meet client’s needs and this takes into account their current needs as well as how their condition may progress in the future. She continues to be based in East Yorkshire but travels nationwide as part of her role.
The knowledge from her NHS and private career allows Barbara to have a breadth of knowledge about a variety of conditions and how strategies and equipment can assist individuals to manage their daily lives.
Barbara uses this knowledge to be an ambassador for Opera beds to offer an impartial opinion on what will meet an individual’s needs.
