I am Lauren Gills, a Band 4 Occupational Therapy Assistant with over 12 years of experience working within the Kent and Medway Wheelchair Service.

My career began as a Nursery Nurse in a special needs school and nursery setting, where I supported children who used wheelchairs. Although transitioning into wheelchair services initially presented new challenges, it quickly became a role I was passionate about and one in which I have continued to develop extensive knowledge and expertise.

Today, I bring a wealth of experience in wheelchair assessment and prescription. My role is varied, rewarding, and centred around ensuring that service users receive the most appropriate equipment to meet their needs. My responsibilities include triaging referrals for FSE direct delivery, assessing children for their first wheelchair and subsequent resizes, carrying out adult assessments, and undertaking both home and community visits.

I particularly enjoy working collaboratively with Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists, and other healthcare professionals, as it provides continual opportunities for learning and professional growth. Most importantly, I am committed to making a positive difference to the lives of the people I support, always striving to go above and beyond to achieve the best possible outcomes for service users.

In addition to my clinical responsibilities, I am now a member of the Wellbeing Team and actively support discharge planning with Kent and Canterbury Hospital. I attend twice-weekly team meetings to provide updates regarding stock availability, equipment orders, helping to ensure that any issues are identified and resolved in a timely manner to support effective patient discharge and continuity of care.