internet. However, we also now know that people constantly come back for you to provide more assistance and there are always issues to be sorted. Clearly there needs to be a margin that enables you to do things properly.” And on pricing, she has this to say: “I still think that some items are overpriced, but for others there is a justification. If you have a complex piece of equipment, then after-sales service has to be built into the margin. You have to be realistic about the cost of running a retail business, and the same goes for private practice. Most Occupational Therapists don’t appreciate that running the office, employing administration staff and all the unpaid time that it takes to operate a business has to be taken into account. As I said, it’s a learning experience and OTs do find that scary.” With such a range of services on offer, Veronica believes her company is in a unique position. “I think that offering the breadth of services that we do makes us a first. I don’t know of any other Occupational Therapy company that offers our wide umbrella of activities, from retail and equipment servicing through to occupational therapy assessments and medico-legal work.” As readers will be aware, medico-legal work has grown considerably over the past few years and, as Veronica explains, the sums involved have increased considerably too. “Over time, the levels of settlement have gone up and the cases that I work with tend to be the most complex ones. I do a lot of assessments for children with cerebral palsy and with complex trauma, so we are talking serious money. For the clinical negligence cases we are now seeing settlements of several millions of pounds, largely due to the increasing cost of care and the fact that people are now living longer.” She added: “Settlements are sometimes made as a lump sum to cater for buying a property to adapt, the adapted transport and the equipment, as well as setting up a care package and engaging therapists. Then there will be annual payments to cover the on-going costs, particularly
where life expectancy is not necessarily known. One case that I worked on involved a car accident, with spinal injuries to an elderly client who is still alive now, even though at the time of the settlement in the late 1990’s, the expectation was that he would live no more than a couple of years. Here we are, fifteen years later and he is still with us, so the money that was paid then no longer covers his costs.” “There are also a large number of Veronica with Store fast-track claims that manager Amy Wilks don’t actually come to requiring an assessment by an Occupational Therapist or other expert,” she explains. “A few years ago the figure that was being talked about for compensation claims by the NHS was some £20 billion. But, if you think that an appropriate sum for a young child might range from perhaps £5m to as much as £7.5m, then you can see that there are huge sums involved. There’s no doubt that we now have a “An appropriate sum for a young child therapy and care industry might range from perhaps £5m to as that is compensationmuch as £7.5m” led. However, we also have to understand that for children or adults who cannot blame anyone for a genetic condition and who have to rely on statutory provision, that can be pretty miserable.” You can get in touch with Veronica Downing Associates on 01986 875435 or visit the website at www.veronicadowning.co.uk
New website for Gainsborough Gainsborough Specialist Bathing has launched a new interactive website to coincide with its newly updated corporate identity. The website has been totally redesigned so it is more user-friendly and now offers visitors more detailed information on its products. Within the newly designed product pages, comprehensive details are provided highlighting individual bath features, technical specifications as well as product videos that show the products in use. Example room layouts and CAD drawings are available as downloads to fully support the needs of contractors, specifiers and architects. The considerately designed home page also includes links to the latest news, details on its Aspect accessible bathroom design service
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and information regarding new products initiatives. website further enhanced the introduction an innovative Product Selector which delivers a simple and easy to use method visitors to choose the right bath individual needs. The new Gainsborough website is live at www.gainsboroughbaths.com
or The is by of new Tool, for for
www.thiis.co.uk
E-mail: info@thiis.co.uk