Information and guidance produced by the RCSLT in response to the pandemic, including clinical guidance, statements and the RCSLT COVID-19 webinar series.

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RCSLT guidance produced in response to COVID-19

 

Reducing risk of transmission

Workforce

Restoring services

Clinical guidance

Joint publications

The joint statement on PPE for those who care for people who regularly cough is being redrafted following helpful feedback received from a number of interested parties. A new statement will be issued as soon as possible.

Letters

CAPA campaigning

The Covid Airborne Protection Alliance (CAPA), of which RCSLT is a part, has written a number of letters to organisations and individuals, seeking clarification on issues relating to the pandemic:

Webinars

The COVID-19 patient pathway for SLTs

This series of webinars takes you through the COVID-19 patient pathway from the speech and language perspective. In this series we look at how patients present at the intensive care unit (ICU), interventions in critical care, rehabilitation in the community, as well as how to look after yourself and sources of support.

Webinar 1: COVID-19: Critical Care for SLTs

  • What is the disease? What do we know? Typical presentations of a patient in the COVID-19 critical care pathway
  • How the COVID-19 ICU experience differs from the normal scope of practice
  • Intubation, post extubation issues
  • Tracheostomy management and weaning

Watch the webinar in full

Download the presentation (PDF)

Q&A document – COVID-19: Critical Care for SLTs (PDF)

Webinar 2: Practical and ethical decisions in adults with COVID-19

By attending this webinar you will gain an understanding of:

  • The types patients with COVID-19 being seen on non-critical care wards.
  • The types of clinical presentation that these patients have.
  • Modifications to approaches to management including end of life care.
  • Managing eating and drinking for those at risk of aspiration.
  • Approaches to managing mental capacity assessment.
  • Using ethical frameworks to support and inform decision making.

Watch the webinar in full

Download the presentation (PDF)

Q&A document – COVID-19: Practical and ethical decisions in adults (PDF)

Webinar 3: Laryngectomy

By attending this webinar, delegates will learn about:

  • How inpatient and outpatient laryngectomy services are being adapted in response to COVID-19.
  • The use of personal protective equipment in laryngectomy services.
  • Using telehealth to support laryngectomy patients.
  • Managing patients’ anxiety during the crisis.

Watch the webinar in full

Download the presentation (PDF)

Download the list of references (PDF)

Webinar 4: Rehabilitation

By attending this webinar, you will gain an understanding of:

  • Clinical presentations and rehab needs of COVID-19 patients.
  • The RCSLT/Intensive Care Society Rehabilitation Pathway.
  • Partnership working for rehabilitation.
  • How SLTs are making a positive impact.

Watch the webinar in full

Download the presentation (PDF)

Webinar 5: Telehealth

After attending this webinar, delegates will have:

  • The evidence base for telehealth pre-COVID-19.
  • An understanding of what telehealth looks like now, in the context of COVID-19.
  • The new RCSLT telehealth guidance, including practical how-to advice.
  • Examples in adult services, looking at dysphagia and risk assessment.
  • The patient experience of telehealth services.

Watch the webinar in full

Download the presentation (PDF)

Webinar 6: Telehealth in the COVID-19 context working with children

After attending this webinar, delegates will have:

  • Knowledge of how SLTs are delivering tele therapy to children in the context of COVID-19.
  • Practical ideas, examples and case studies to support your practice.
  • An understanding of how to address issues of patient choice and technology access.
  • Up to the minute research on SLTs’ use of telehealth.

Watch the webinar in full

Download the presentation (PDF)

RCSLT webinar: Improving Stroke Care – The impact of COVID present and future

By attending this webinar, delegates will gain an understanding of:

  • Adapting to service provision in light of COVID-19.
  • Continuing to meet stroke targets in the new “normal”.
  • Community provision of therapy including using different assessments and remote provision of therapy.
  • Working in multidisciplinary teams to deliver patient care pathways.

Watch the webinar in full

Download the presentation (PDF)

RCSLT open access guidance

The following guidance is available to read online without a member login:

Frequently asked questions

For further information for RCSLT members, visit our frequently asked questions.

The RCSLT will continue to keep members updated.

If you have any questions, please contact us.

RCSLT advice services

If you have a query about any aspect of your clinical practice, the RCSLT can put you in touch with one of our clinical advisers, who can help you try to resolve your issue.

Please get in touch with us at info@rcslt.org if you would like to make use of this valuable service.

RCN publication on standard and transmission-based precautions

This publication looks objectively at the methodology and interpretation of the guidelines we have all been struggling to influence for the last two years, during the pandemic.

‘Raising the Bar’ is a Royal College of Nursing (RCN) commissioned review of national and international guidelines and the evidence they present to underpin standard and transmission-based precautions. It was written by Professor Dinah Gould, Dr Edward Purssell and Rose Gallagher, professional lead for infection prevention and control at the RCN.

Relevance to SLTs

The COVID-19 pandemic emphasised concerns and highlighted opportunities regarding infection prevention and control (IPC) guidance. This publication has been written to support all healthcare professionals, including SLTs, in delivering care where infection risk is present to both themselves and their patients.

Read the full document.

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