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Speech and language therapists 'speak out' about achievements

Therapists Pippa Hales (left) and Sarah McLean (right) assessing a patient's swallow

Speech and language therapists at Addenbrooke's Hospital are 'speaking out' this week about their achievements as part of the national Speech and Language Therapy Week (10-14 October).

"We wanted to take this opportunity to tell people about the work we do and the exciting developments over the last year. We have really been moving the service forward for patients with some new clinics and services, and decided that it was time to celebrate the good news," said Bernardine Page, Head of Speech and Language Therapy.

The Speech and Language Therapy (SLT) Department at Addenbrooke's works with both adults and children, helping them with problems affecting communication and swallowing which might result from a wide range of conditions and illnesses such as head and neck cancer, stroke, head injuries and voice disorders. Their work is varied and exciting: it might involve helping babies to establish bottle or breastfeeding and to feed safely or working with patients and their families from when the patient is acutely unwell in intensive care through to recovery and rehabilitation.

"This is a really exciting time for speech and language therapy," continued Bernardine Page. "We have launched the Fibreoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES) Clinic, using special equipment that enables us to assess swallowing in more detail. There's a tv screen so that both the patient and staff can look at what we are seeing, which is great because it gives both a better understanding of what's happening."

"Our new joint ENT (Ear, Nose and Throat)/SLT Voice Clinic for people with voice disorders helps many patients, including professional voice users such as singers, actors, teachers and lecturers. We have also successfully piloted and have now introduced evening voice therapy to enable patients to access our service at a more convenient time.”

"And our latest achievement is recruiting a speech and language therapist who works with children in the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit, and follows them through to the wards. Children seen on the unit might include those who have difficulties with swallowing and communication as a result of a head injury, brain tumour or respiratory problems that have needed a tracheostomy (a surgical procedure cutting into the windpipe that helps the patient to breathe)."

Find out more by visiting the display and activity stand hosted by SLTs and people who have undergone speech and language therapy in the Addenbrooke's concourse on Wednesday 12 and Thursday 13 October from 1200-1400 hrs.

Notes for editors
• This is part of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists’ (RCSLT) national Speech and Language Therapy Week, from 10 -14 October.
• The RCSLT is the professional body for Speech and Language Therapists in the UK and has over 12,000 members. It is responsible for setting, promoting and maintaining high standards in education, clinical practice and ethical conduct. Visit: www.rcslt.org


10 October 2005

For further press/media information contact: PR & Communications Department, Box 53, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 2QQ; Tel: 01223 274 433; Fax: 01223 257 143; Minicom: 01223 274 604.