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Speech and language therapy (SLT) - community and outpatient services

Checked: 05-11-2024 by Vicky Ryan Next Review: 04-11-2026

Overview

All the SLT teams listed below provide assessment and intervention for adults over the age of 18 with communication and swallowing difficulties relating to acquired conditions.

Please note that the teams have different areas of expertise and cover different areas of BNSSG so ensure you use the flow diagram and see the exclusions below when making referral choices to avoid the referral being rejected or delayed.

Speech & Language referrals for people in Care Homes who have swallowing difficulties (North Somerset only).

Care home staff can refer directly to Sirona Community Speech and Language Therapy. In most instances they are required to complete the resources and follow guidance found on their Speech and Language Resources for Care Homes page prior to referral: https://sirona-cic.org.uk/advice-information/leaflet-library/speech-and-language-care-home-resources-2-2/

If the suggestions in the pack do not resolve the issues for the resident, they are welcome to contact Sirona via sirona.SLTcarehomesadvice@nhs.net

Exclusions

The SLT teams are not commissioned to provide input for issues relating to:

Developmental language or speech delay/disorder including dyslexia - see Dyslexia page
Mental health disorders such as schizophrenia
Autistic spectrum disorders without a learning disability - see Autistic Spectrum page
Hearing impairment - see Hearing problems page
Known oesophageal dysphagia in the absence of indications of oropharyngeal dysphagia (these patients should be managed by Gastroenterology)

Referral pathway

Please see the attached flow diagram to find out who to refer to in what circumstances.

All services now use the same combined Joint SLT Referral form which is available as an EMIS template for Primary Care.

Sirona Community SLT services

Please refer using the Joint SLT referral form (available in EMIS) and email to Sirona.neuro@nhs.net

Please ensure that referrals meet the referral criteria as laid out in the flow diagram. Referrals not meeting criteria may be rejected.

Tel: 0300 125 5550 for further information.

NBT SLT Team

Please refer using the Joint SLT referral form (available in EMIS) and email to: SLTContact@nbt.nhs.uk

Tel 0117 414 5130 for further information

Patient choice enables patients to choose where they would like to be seen, however, it helps with effective management of patient or therapist travel time, including for home visits, if Bristol & South Gloucestershire GP Practices refer based on this list: Bristol & South Glos GP Practices seen by NBT SLT service

The NBT SLT team accepts referrals for patients with stammer or stutter.

UHBW - Bristol

Refer using the Joint SLT referral form (available in EMIS) and email to: SLTBRI@uhbw.nhs.uk

Tel: 0117 342 1564 for further information

Patient choice enables patients to choose where they would like to be seen, however, it helps with effective management of patient or therapist travel time, if Bristol & South Gloucestershire GP Practices refer based on this list: Bristol & South Glos GP Practices seen by UHBW SLT service

Patients with ENT conditions or history of head and neck cancer should be referred to the St Michaels team. Referrals can be made on 0117 3421088 or via e-mail: SLTSTMH@uhbw.nhs.uk

UHBW - Weston

Refer using the Joint SLT referral form (available in EMIS) and email to: SLTWGH@UHBW.nhs.uk

Tel: 01934 647145 for further information

Efforts are made to ensure the accuracy and agreement of these guidelines, including any content uploaded, referred to or linked to from the system. However, BNSSG ICB cannot guarantee this. This guidance does not override the individual responsibility of healthcare professionals to make decisions appropriate to the circumstances of the individual patient, in consultation with the patient and/or guardian or carer, in accordance with the mental capacity act, and informed by the summary of product characteristics of any drugs they are considering. Practitioners are required to perform their duties in accordance with the law and their regulators and nothing in this guidance should be interpreted in a way that would be inconsistent with compliance with those duties.

Information provided through Remedy is continually updated so please be aware any printed copies may quickly become out of date.