Speech and Language Therapy
Speech and language therapy involves the assessment and management of a range of both communication and swallowing difficulties. The following areas are assessed:
- physical
- psychological
- cognitive
- social
- environmental
Management is planned as part of a holistic treatment programme. Intervention is carried out either individually or in groups, often in conjunction with other therapies.
Our role in OCE
Inpatient service
Each Speech and Language Therapist has a varied caseload, working intensively with individuals. Intervention may be short, focusing on assessment and advice, or of several months’ duration for a comprehensive rehabilitation programme.
Outpatient service
Outpatient rehabilitation focuses on enhancing ability to participate in everyday life activities including work, leisure and family. We receive referrals from a variety of sources and work with patients requiring multidisciplinary input. Patients requiring only speech and language therapy will be referred to community services.
Day hospital
This service is for people with long term neurological conditions. Patients attend for one day a week for blocks of up to 6 weeks for assessment and rehabilitation. Speech and language therapy is provided as part of a programme of therapies and is scheduled according to need. Intervention is carried out either individually or in groups, dependent on patient need.
Referrals
Referrals should be made in accordance with the OCE neurological rehabiliation referral process:
Reasons to refer
Speech and Language Therapy can offer:
- Intensive inpatient therapy dependant on need
- Multidisciplinary working, often offering joint sessions with different members of the team to achieve functional goals
- Facilitative goal planning, enabling patients with severe communication impairments to express what is important to them (e.g. hobbies, family roles and work)
- 1:1 and group therapy, to focus on individual impairments and encourage the use of various functional strategies and resources to maximize communication and participation
- Therapy can be conducted in functional situations outside the hospital environment
- Seamless transition from admission to discharge from hospital due to being part of a larger team covering all hospitals. This enables liaison with both acute and community colleagues
- Working with families alongside the Clinical Neuropyschology service, in order to maximize interaction between patients and their children
- Referrals to other specialist Speech and Language Therapy services if required
Contact us
Email: ouh.ocesalt@nhs.net