The Adult Speech and Language Therapy community service has been receiving top marks on the I Want Great Care website.

The team provides assessment, diagnosis and treatment for people with acquired voice, speech, communication and swallowing difficulties.

The service is split into three locality teams – South, North and West, and City and East and they see people in a range of settings such as their own homes, outpatient clinics, community hospitals and care homes.

The team receives around 250 referrals per month and see people living with conditions such as Stroke, Parkinson’s disease, dementia, Motor Neurone Disease and, recently, COVID-related symptoms.

One patient said: “I always find the knowledge of the speech and language team is very good. If I have any doubts, they will always be the people I would contact.”

Another patient said: “Our therapist was very thorough with making sure my grandfather was swallowing correctly. She was patient and kind throughout.”

Lizzie King, clinical lead, said: “Eating, drinking and communicating are fundamental aspects of being human. Difficulties in any of these areas affects health and medical status as well as psychosocial wellbeing and relationships.

“Our Speech and Language Therapists support patients through difficulty; helping them improve, maintain or manage their skills. The team continually demonstrate care, empathy and innovative approaches to help patients reach their potential. We are finding digital consultations an ongoing useful tool as they reduce the communication barriers of PPE/masks and our patients tell us they work well for them too.”

Another service user said: “Exceptional speech therapy with my speech and language therapist. She was kind, compassionate and extremely helpful.”

A final reviewer said: “Great explanation of exercise, good discussion about improvement and what to expect from therapy. Very helpful when voice was very strained from stress and anxiety in helping to understand what was happening to cause the problem. My speech and language therapist was so cheerful and friendly.”

For more information about this service click the following link.