Speech and language therapy assessment is available for both children and adults who may have communication or swallowing problems. Indications may include patients with delayed speech, mental health, learning disabilities or neurological conditions.

Some of these services may also offer relevant training for care staff.

The NEWT Guidelines website draws together the available information relating to medicines management in patients with enteral feeding tubes or swallowing difficulties. The website includes 600+ drug monographs, as well as practical and legal aspects, and general guidance.

NCL MOT has purchased subscription to the online NEWT guidelines for NCL practices and has shared access details directly with practices via email.

Contact the NCL MOT nclicb.medsoptimisation@nhs.net if you have any queries.

Area specific guidance for Camden

Speech and language therapists are embedded within a range of specialist services across Camden:

• adults with a neurological condition such as stroke, brain injury, or progressive neurologies: refer to the Camden Neurology and Stroke Service
• adults with learning disabilities: refer to the Camden Learning Disability Service. See also the Camden Learning Disabilities Service on the Camden Borough website
• adults who stammer: may be signposted to self-refer to the Michael Palin Service
• adults with altered voice quality (e.g. hoarseness): refer to ENT initially, who can refer into specialist voice clinics
• for speech difficulties related to hearing loss, refer to SLT at the Royal National Ear, Nose and Throat Hospital and see also advice from RNID

Area specific guidance for Barnet

Speech and language therapies across Barnet

• Barnet’s Children’s Integrated Therapies (CIT) provides Speech and Language Therapy:
  • children and young people are placed on the Language pathway if they have difficulties with their understanding and/or use of language as their current primary need that is not related to hearing loss and/or social communication difficulties
  • children and young people are offered support in the Speech, Voice and Dysfluency (SVD) pathway if any of the following are their primary area of need:
    • delayed or disordered speech sound development
    • a voice disorder
    • early childhood dysfluency, stammering or cluttering
  • a child or young person will be placed on the Social Communication pathway if  they have differences in their social communication/ social interaction skills as their main primary need alongside additional language and/or speech support needs. 
  • children and young people are placed in the Hearing Support Pathway (HSP) if they have permanent hearing difficulties in both ears that are considered moderate to severe or greater in severity
• Barnet Local Offer has further resources:
  • Barnet Education and Learning Service (BELS): Stages of Hearing, Language and Speech Development
• UCLH Speech and Language therapy (deaf children and young people) service caters for babies, children and adolescents (attending the AVM and ENT departments at the Royal National ENT & Eastman Dental Hospitals) with congenital or acquired deafness or auditory processing disorders. The service provides assessment and advice only