Celebrating AHP Day with our AHP PAG

This AHP Day, we spoke to our AHP PAG about what being an AHP means to them.

We were also lucky to have a chat with AHP PAG Chair and Occupational Therapist, James Bruce who shared insight into his role.

What does being an AHP mean to you?

Being an Allied Health Professional (AHP) means being part of a diverse and dynamic workforce that delivers essential, patient-centred care across many different settings. As AHPs, we work collaboratively within multidisciplinary teams to provide specialised assessments and interventions that support individuals in achieving their best possible health outcomes. Our practice is grounded in research and clinical evidence, underpinned by a strong commitment to lifelong learning and continuous professional development.

We pride ourselves on high-quality communication and collaboration, ensuring that care is coordinated, ethical, and delivered to the highest professional standards. Adaptability and critical thinking are central to our roles, enabling us to assess, plan, and evaluate care effectively. Beyond clinical interventions, we aim to educate and empower individuals to maintain their health, prevent illness, and actively participate in their own recovery journey.

What is the biggest challenge in your job?

The greatest challenge in my role is balancing time and resources. While direct, face-to-face patient care is always the priority, limited resources can at times impact service development and best practice implementation. Striking that balance between delivering immediate patient care and investing in longer-term service improvement remains a continual challenge.

Tell me about a time you felt proud at work.

I feel proud every day when I see the growth and enthusiasm within my team. Watching colleagues develop confidence, challenge established practices and strive for innovation is incredibly rewarding. Their drive to ask, “How can we make this better?” embodies the very essence of what it means to work in allied health — a shared commitment to excellence and improvement for the benefit of our service users.

What advice would you give to someone starting their AHP career?

For anyone beginning their AHP career, my advice is to first gain experience across a range of healthcare settings to understand the diversity and demands of the field. Working in healthcare is both rewarding and challenging, and success comes from passion, resilience, and reflection. Embrace lifelong learning — no one knows everything, and healthcare evolves constantly. Develop active listening and empathy; these are the cornerstones of effective communication with patients, families, and colleagues. Always focus on patient-centred care — treat people, not just conditions.

Equally important is self-care: healthcare is demanding, and maintaining your own wellbeing is vital to sustaining a long, fulfilling career. Learn from every experience, value your team, and make full use of supervision and mentorship. Advocate for your role and help others understand the contribution AHPs make to healthcare. Finally, uphold professionalism in every interaction — demonstrate respect, maintain confidentiality, and act ethically. These qualities build trust and open doors for future growth and leadership.

Read on below for a few messages from our PAG members.