Do We Need a Hospital-Based Post to Provide a Domiciliary Speech and Language Therapy Service?

Abstract

An increasing number of our out-patients are unable to avail of the speech and language therapy service offered as they find the journey to the hospital too difficult. Many are relatively young and have communication and/or swallowing problems as a result of progressive neurological disease. For the speech and language therapists, much time is lost in cancelled appointments and non-attendances. A short pilot study was carried out to investigate the need for a hospital-based domiciliary speech and language therapy service as a means of providing a more comprehensive service to patients. The study concludes that a hospital-based domiciliary speech and language therapy service would be advantageous in providing a better quality service to our patients. A longer study is required to investigate outcome measures and cost effectiveness.