Community Service

The Speech and Language Therapy Community Team provides assessment, therapy, support and advice for adults (and their families/carers) experiencing difficulties with their communication and/or swallowing. Therapy sessions may be offered:

  • In person at one of our community clinics
  • In person home visit (only offered for people who are confined to their homes)
  • Via telephone
  • Via video call

Information from the assessment is used to tailor therapy to the individual’s difficulties, needs and goals. This includes but not limited to assessment and therapy for:

  • Difficulties with speech (dysarthria)
  • Difficulties with language (dysphasia)
  • Voice changes (dysphonia)
  • Transgender voice
  • Lee Silverman Voice Treatment™  for people with Parkinson’s Disease
  • Provision of communication aids including voice banking
  • Swallowing difficulties (dysphagia) including videofluoroscopy (x-ray of the swallow)

Therapy may be offered one to one or in groups. Therapy programs may also be conducted by our Speech and Language Therapy Assistants with oversight from a Speech and Language Therapist.

Inpatient Service

The Speech and Language Therapy Inpatient Team provides assessment, therapy, advice and support for inpatients at Blackpool Victoria Hospital, experiencing difficulties with their communication and/or swallowing. The SLT team delivers services to areas such as Surgical, Stroke, Critical Care, Respiratory and Care of the Elderly. An outreach service is also provided to Clifton Hospital. The therapists work closely with patients, families, doctors, nursing staff and other allied health professionals to meet the patient’s needs and goals. This includes, but not limited to:

  • Bedside assessment of communication and swallowing
  • Therapy for communication and swallowing needs where appropriate
  • Advice surrounding communication and swallowing during end of life care
  • Videofluoroscopy assessment of swallowing
  • Fibreoptic Endoscopic Examination of Swallowing
  • Discharge planning, including referring patients to appropriate community services