Local NHS cut-backs threaten vital services
A national survey of speech and language therapy managers shows that:
- Six out of 10 (62%) believe they will not be able to plan for and meet future patient needs
- Half say the standard of care they now provide is significantly lower, or even that their service is no longer viable.
- More than three-quarters (78%) say their budget has been frozen or cut for the coming year.
- Nearly two-thirds (59%) say they do not anticipate taking on newly qualified speech and language therapists this year. As a result 8 out of 10 new graduates cannot find jobs, despite Government predications that it will take over 10 years until there are enough speech and language therapists to meet needs of local communities.
In the Vale of Aylesbury, for example, the speech and language therapy department has been forced to turn children away. No more children with speech and language difficulties can get the vital treatment they need.
RCSLT CEO Kamini Gadhok said:
"The quality of life for these vulnerable children depends on them receiving our expert help; we are being prevented from giving them a fair chance in life. The Government has set standards for improving community care and for services to meet the needs of local communities. Delivery of these standards is at risk because services to people with communication difficulties are seen as a soft target by local NHS trusts eager to save money. It takes years to develop effective services that can meet the needs of local communities. We call on Government to prevent the reckless dismantling of these crucial services before it is too late."
ENDS
For more information contact:
Jane Mackenzie, RCSLT England Policy Officer. Tel: 020 7378 3020 Email: Jane.Mackenzie@rcslt.org
Sarah Keegan, RCSLT Policy Officer. Tel: 020 7378 3003 Email: Sarah.Keegan@rcslt.org
Richard Guy, Head of CRM. Tel: 020 7378 3010 Email: Richard.Guy@rcslt.org
Notes for editors:
As a profession, speech and language therapists are particularly vulnerable to change in the NHS. There are 10,524 speech and language therapists registered with the Health Professions Council and the majority work in the NHS across the UK.
- There is a recognised shortage of speech and language therapists in the UK. This means many clients (particularly children) are experiencing severe delays in accessing therapy
- There is increased need for speech and language therapy intervention because people are living longer, and many more are living longer after cancer treatment and with problems such as dementia and stroke that affect communication; there is increased recognition of problems such as autism and learning difficulties; and improvements in neonatal care mean the number of pre-term babies surviving with developmental problems, such as cerebral palsy is increasing.
- If children with communication difficulties cannot access treatment, research has shown that this can lead to behavioural problems1 and up to one third will suffer mental health problems, creating enormous costs later in life. And if they can't access education, their life chances and employment prospects are extremely poor2. This fits with the recent speech from PM Tony Blair about the importance of early intervention to prevent children being socially excluded and later offending.
- The Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT) is the professional body for speech and language therapists in the UK and has over 13,000 members. It is responsible for setting, promoting and maintaining high standards in education, clinical practice and ethical conduct.
1 Snow and Powell, Developmental Language Disorders and Adolescent Risk in Current Issues in Criminal Justice 16(2) Australia (2004)
2 Locke, Ginsborg and Peers, Development and Disadvantage in Early Years, International Journal of Language and Communication Disorders Vol 27 No 1 (2002)