2 March 2022
Following the letters to the government from the Community Rehabilitation Alliance (CRA) and the Allied Health Professions Federation (AHPF), the RCSLT has published a briefing on the Health and Care Bill.
The Health and Care Bill briefing highlights how we think the Bill can be strengthened in the interests of people of all ages with communication and swallowing needs and their families, the other professionals working with them and the wider health and social care, education and justice system.
The RCSLT welcomes government amendments on babies, children and young people and the skills mix required on Integrated Care Boards (ICBs). However, we think these can be made stronger to ensure the best possible level of support for people who rely on speech and language therapy.
The RCSLT supports amendments on workforce planning which could help address weaknesses in the current system in England. Unless addressed, these weaknesses risk not enough speech and language therapists being trained to meet current and future demand.
The briefing looks at each amendment, giving an explanatory statement to members, overall reflections from the RCSLT, a list of why the amendment matters to people with communication and swallowing needs and provides some key asks of the government.
The amendments are related to the following subjects:
- A duty to promote rehabilitation
- ICBs membership
- ICBs functions
- Babies, children and young people
- Performance assessment of ICBs
- Workforce planning
- A duty to report on workforce systems
- Child safeguarding
Letter calls for more allied health professional involvement in clinical leadership
RCSLT signs AHPF letter to government
Joint letter sets out need for measures to prioritise rehabilitation services
RCSLT signs letter as part of the CRA
RCSLT influences Committee Stage of Health and Care Bill
Our rehabilitation asks
