Adult Speech & Language Therapy

What We Do

We are a small team of speech and language therapists based across North and South Kirklees. We work in partnership with professionals in health and social care, including Rehabilitation Assistants and Assistant Practitioners, and with voluntary sector support services to provide holistic patient care.

Our community-based service operates within the core hours of 08:30 to 17:00, Monday to Friday. We work in Health Centers and visit patients at home or in a care home if needed.

We work with adults with acquired conditions who have difficulty with their communication and/or swallowing, as well as their family members and carers. These difficulties may be due to stroke, acquired brain injury, dementia, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, motor neurone disease, other progressive neurological conditions or respiratory conditions, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Communication difficulties can include:

• difficulties with producing and using speech
• difficulties with understanding and using language

Eating, drinking and swallowing difficulties, also known as dysphagia, can include:

• difficulties with chewing
• coughing or choking on food and drink
• wet or gurgly voice after swallowing
• repeated chest infections

We provide both virtual (telephone or video) and face-to-face consultations, depending on the patient’s needs. Our aim is to improve communication and/or swallowing difficulties and reduce their impact on the patient’s wellbeing.

What We Don’t Do

We do not provide the following:

1. Capacity assessments (unless communication-related and patient is already under our care)
2. Continuation of children’s services e.g., for adults with:
   • Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC)
   • Developmental Language Disorder, previously known as Specific Language Impairment
   • Dyslexia
   • Social communication difficulties
   • Stammering (if registered with a South Kirklees GP)
3. Therapy for adults with:
   • Eating disorders
   • English as an additional language (EAL)
   • Head and neck cancer
   • Hearing impairments
   • Learning disabilities
     • The ‘Learning Disability Speech and Language Therapy Team’ work with adults who have a diagnosed learning disability and communication or swallowing needs which cannot be met by our mainstream service.
     • Please refer to South West Yorkshire Foundation Trust
   • Voice disorders
     • If registered with a North Kirklees GP, please refer to Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust.
     • If registered with a South Kirklees GP, please refer to Calderdale and Huddersfield Foundation Trust.
4. Diagnostic assessments for autism in adults
5. Instrumental assessments e.g., videofluoroscopy or FEES (Fibreoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing)
6. Tracheostomies or laryngectomies (please contact the specialist team at your hospital)

Referrals

Electronic referrals to the Speech and Language Therapy Team can be made by clicking on the ‘Referrals’ button on this webpage, you will then be taken to Locala’s eReferrals Directory. Alternatively, you can call on 0300 304 5555 to make a referral.

Any health or social care professional can refer.

We can accept self-referrals, however we advise that you speak with your GP first about your concern, before contacting our service. 

Note: It is the referrer's responsibility to document the patient’s consent to this and any future referrals and to confirm that on the referral form

What to expect

Each referral is triaged and checked against our service offer. If the referral is not accepted, you will be informed of the reason why. If the referral is accepted, you will be added to our waiting list and informed of the approximate wait time. You may also be provided with some advice or strategies to start before we see you.

Once at the top of the waiting list, you will receive an initial telephone consultation from a member of our team. We will discuss your health and care needs and work with you to best meet them. This may include:

• Conducting further clinical assessments and intervention
• Identifying strategies to improve your communication and/or swallowing difficulties
• Providing self-management advice and resources
• Signposting you to other services