RCSLT's work in stroke

RCSLT stroke campaign calls

  • One in ten: In an acute ward there must be one speech and language therapist for every ten people who have had a stroke.
  • Communication lifeline: every stroke survivor must have prompt referral to speech and language therapy to allow rapid development of methods of communication in the immediate days following their stroke.
  • Community service: every community stroke team must have at least one speech and language therapist.

RCSLT survey of stroke survivors


The RCSLT carried out a survey of 500 stroke survivors with communication problems across England in late 2007. Although stroke survivors spoke highly of their speech and language therapy, half had to wait over two months for their speech and language therapy to begin. More than half felt that they had not received enough speech and language therapy .

These results of the survey were launched on 05 March at the House of Commons, where the RCSLT called on the Government to recognise that the ability to communicate is a basic human right. Further RCSLT said that there must be adequate, appropriate and equitable provision of communication support for stroke survivors to meet this right.

Leaflet on the stroke survey results
Leaflet about stroke

The role of SLTs along the stroke care pathway

The role of speech and language therapists along the stroke care pathway is now available on the Department of Health website as a supporting document for the national stroke strategy for workforce planning purposes.

APPG on speech and language difficulties

The Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists provides secretariat support to the All Party Parliamentary Group on Speech and Language Difficulties. Membership is open to any Parliamentarian from any political party and it is currently made up of more than 60 MPs and Peers. The APPG meets about three times a year to discuss developments and issues around speech and language difficulties across various clinical conditions. The APPG unanimously re-elected John Bercow as chair at its Annual General Meeting in December 2007. Lord Ramsbotham and Kevin Barron were re-elected as Vice Chairs. Please contact Claire Moser on 020 7378 3023 if you would like more information about the work of the Group.

Working with The Stroke Association

See how we are working in partnership with the Stroke Association. Learn more about the All Party Parliamentary Group on Stroke including how to join, find it if your MP is a member or use a template letter to encouarge them to join.

Letter in The Times from the RCSLT and others on the England National Stroke Strategy