21st June 2011 

Speech and Language Therapists (SLTs) are preparing for the launch of the Giving Voice Campaign, a national campaign instigated by the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists' (RCSLT) to raise awareness of the vital role SLTs play in the lives of people with communication needs.

SLTs want to show what speech and language therapy is and the positive impact it has on people's lives. Giving Voice will also demonstrate that this unique and vital service is cost-effective and value for money.  

Jane Stroud, Head of Speech and Language Therapy Services said: 

“I know that our SLT service provides excellent value for money at the same time as making positive changes to the lives of our patients. 

“We have developed an in house dysphagia (swallowing) training programme for newly qualified SLTs so they are able to work with feeding and swallowing problems as soon as possible rather than waiting to attend expensive and time consuming training.

“We have also launched a new rapid response service for urgent swallow problems in the community so that patients can be seen in their home environment or at the hospital.”

Gloucestershire SLTs are launching the campaign with an open afternoon on 23^rd June in the SLT Department in GRH.  The afternoon, which will run from 1.30-4.00pm, will feature talks from patients about the effect SLT has had on their lives as well as a range of displays and information on the different conditions SLTs get involved in.  There will also be a hands-on display of communication aids ranging from low to high tech to experiment with.

Highlighting top issues identified in the Gloucestershire services, Jane Stroud adds: “For the coming year the SLTs will continue to build upon involving interested patients in developing user-friendly information and groups to increase access for other communication-impaired people. The service strives to deliver an equitable service for all service users across the county, developing new approaches to delivering treatments in community hospitals and continuing to ensure that the public and patients recognise the value of communication.”

The open day will reveal more about the innovative ways that Speech and Language Therapists work with a very wide range of people with communication difficulties.