3 September 2026
The RCSLT is supporting an amendment to the Health Bill (NC117) which highlights the need for greater access to speech and language therapy. Complete the e-action to urge your MP to support it.
The amendment has been tabled by Anna Sabine MP. Ms Sabine has spoken recently about losing her voice after surgery and was supported by speech and language therapists, whom she described as ‘saints’.
If approved, the amendment would require the Government to publish a strategy for improving access to NHS speech and language therapy in England. The amendment will be debated during the next stage of the Bill, scheduled for Monday 7 and Tuesday 8 September.
We strongly support the amendment, which aligns with the calls of the Invest in SLT campaign, and have launched an e-action for people (both SLTs and members of the public) to contact their MP, asking them to support it when it is debated.
Why does the amendment seek to do?
The proposed amendment would require the Government’s strategy to undertake an assessment of:
- waiting times for speech and language therapy across integrated care boards
- geographical variation in access to services
- the SLT workforce, including vacancies and future workforce requirements
- the action needed to reduce waiting times and inequalities in access.
Your MP can help
The amendment provides an opportunity to put access to speech and language therapy firmly on the political agenda.
A national strategy, supported by better information about waiting times, variation in provision and workforce requirements, could help ensure that people’s access to speech and language therapy does not depend on where they live.
We are asking people to contact their MP to urge them to support the NC117 amendment when it comes up for debate.
Our new e-action makes it quick and easy to contact your MP. Simply fill in your postcode and access the email which explains why access to speech and language therapy matters to people in your community.
