Our Services

Community Speech and Language

The Community Speech and Language team provides assessment, therapy  and advice to  adults with speech, language, communication and swallowing difficulties. 

These can occur as a result of a wide range of health conditions including, stroke, parkinson’s disease, dementia and motor neurone disease.  

The service is provided from some clinics in Guildford and Waverley area or the therapist will come to you at home or nursing/ residential home

How do I get referred?

Your GP or another health professional will refer you.  

Or you can contact the service directly to discuss being referred.

What happens when I have been referred?

Following a referral into the service a therapist will review your referral and prioritise your clinical need based on our medical criteria.

You will receive a letter acknowledging receipt of your referral and which will inform you that you are on the waiting list for an appointment.

You will then receive another letter or telephone call offering you an appointment when we have one available for you .  

Please contact us if you can not make the appointment offered or you are concerned that you need an urgent appointment.

What should I expect during the assessment?

For all initial appointments, the therapist will ask some general health questions and find out the background to your difficulties and how it is impacting on you day to day. 

For swallowing assessments you may be asked to eat and drink something in the session e.g. water, cake, banana. 

For clinic appointments, you might be asked to bring something with you for this.

For communication difficulties, we will assess and diagnose what the problem is, and provide advice and therapy to maximise your communication abilities.

In some cases, this includes trying out alternative communication methods such as writing, drawing and use of computers.

What happens following an assessment?

Following your assessment the therapist will discuss any further assessment or therapy that may be beneficial for you.

You may be given some advice to follow at home. The therapist will arrange any follow up visits with you.

Your therapist will share any advice or recommendations made with your consent, to your GP, and any carers or family members that support you if required.

How can I tell you what I think of the Speech and Language Therapy service?

We very much value your feedback and all our therapists  will ask you to fill in The Friends and Family Survey which is a short questionnaire.

This helps us to learn from your feedback and make service improvements. You will see on our notice boards what changes we have made as a result of your feedback.

How do I find more information?

 

More information can be found below: 

Access the Dysphagia referral form for care homes here.

Read the complete Dysphagia pack for care homes here.

 

Contact us

Tel: 01483 956472

Email: rsch.gw.slt@nhs.net