This opinion piece discusses the concept of globalisation for occupational therapy throughout the world. Factors that enable and inhibit mobile working patterns amongst occupational therapists are highlighted, with emphasis given to the way that occupational therapists are educated in the United Kingdom. The advantages to practitioners and services from the developed nations as opposed to those in the developing countries are recognised. The discussion concludes that, presently, occupational therapists are not optimising the opportunities afforded by globalisation. Educators, practitioners and service providers all have a role to play in taking this agenda forward.

Fieldwork is a distinct element of undergraduate occupational therapy degrees. Students are seconded from educational institutions to fieldwork educators in practice settings, where their vocational competence is developed and assessed. Fieldwork procedures are devised by individual educational institutions. This paper reports the findings of a survey based on data from fieldwork coordinators, which investigated the incidence of and reasoning behind the computation of fieldwork achievement in England and Ireland. The results showed that every programme had considered computing fieldwork performance at some time and that most were actually doing this. Many programmes that were not computing fieldwork performance expressed the desire to do so, but were uncertain about this action. Highly inconsistent practice was found regarding fieldwork assessment procedures and the weightings given to fieldwork elements; consequently, students' practical fieldwork skills may not be conveyed by their degree classification award. Various factors influenced fieldwork computation, with many inconsistencies and contradictions emerging. The study concluded that computation of students' fieldwork achievement was highly inconsistent. Further development is vital to improve this situation for students, educators, clinicians and employers alike. It is suggested that development be coordinated at a national level.

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There is compelling evidence in the literature that anxiety and depression affect high percentages of people with long-term physical conditions and that these often go undiagnosed. This can result in high use of general medical services in people's attempts to have their psychological needs met. This opinion piece explores some of the challenges and implications of this for occupational therapists, who have been educated to work occupationally alongside biological, psychological and sociological factors. It concludes that in a changing National Health Service, occupational therapists need to be able to deliver the true holistic occupational work required by those with long-term conditions, thus meeting biopsychosocial needs. This way, occupational therapists will take into account the complexity of components needed to engage in a variety of activities, and the economic benefits of this return to the profession's philosophy may benefit their standing in the new commissioning climate.

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