Speech and LanguageTherapy (Belfast Trust)

What the service does

Speech and language therapy helps children and adults who have difficulties with:

• speech
• language
• communication
• eating
• drinking
• swallowing

The therapists work directly with patients and their carers to provide individual:

• assessment
• diagnosis
• treatment
• support

Speech and language therapists also work closely with teachers, doctors, nurses, psychologists and other allied health professionals to develop intervention programmes for each service user’s individual needs.

Who provides the service

Speech and language therapists work in a variety of locations across health and social care. They also work in some education facilities.

Speech and language therapists encourage service users and/or carers to be involved in their own treatment. They provide information and encourage active participation in the care process. The aim is to empower service users or families to manage the situation themselves.

How to access the service

In hospital (adult and child inpatient)  Patients are referred to speech and language therapy by medical, nursing or allied health professional staff.

In the community (adult and child outpatient) Patients can be referred by a variety of people, for example:

• doctor
• health visitor
• teacher
• parent
• self-referral

If a GP is referring a voice patient, the referral must include an up-to-date ENT report.

Contact details for referrals

Adults and children living in North or West Belfast: call the Management Centre on (028) 9063 5300

Adults and children living in South or East Belfast: call the Management Centre on (028) 9056 5565

All child referrals require parental consent.

Speech and language therapy for a cleft lip and / or palate