About our service for adults
Our therapists, practitioners and assistants work in the hospitals in Derby, in community hospitals across the county and in some mental health settings. We also work with people in their homes and in other community locations.
We work with adults who have:
- communication difficulties arising from neurological conditions (such as stroke, Parkinson’s disease, motor neurone disease, dementia etc.)
- eating, drinking and swallowing difficulties arising from neurological conditions
- stammering
Video consultation
Many patients have found video consultations more convenient during Covid. Where video consultation works well, and patients are happy with it, we will continue to use this where we can. This will depend on the clinical needs we are working on.
Patient initiated follow up
The NHS is trying to be more responsive to patients. To help us meet patients’ needs at the right time, we are offering more patient initiated follow up. This means patients/carers can contact us when they need the next step, rather than us trying to predict when this might be. This will help us to give help when it is most needed. We will of course still offer planned follow up where this is clinically necessary.
To discuss a possible referral:
Please contact your local speech and language if you know who this is (see 'Contact Us' section to the right) or T: 0115 9512433.
Or email: DCHST.SLTCentralReg@nhs.net
Our admin support workers will put you in touch with a therapist.
To make a community referral:
- Complete the adult community referral form.
- Email it to the speech and language therapy Central Registration Office (email details are on the form).
To make a care home referral:
- Complete the adult care home referral form including the Meal Time Observation Checklist within it. Please note, if this is not completed the referral form will not be accepted.
- Email it to the speech and language therapy Central Registration Office (email details are on the form).
To make a community hospital inpatient referral:
Phone your local SLT office (see 'Contact Us' section to the right) or phone/email the SLT Central Registration team. If emailing or leaving an answerphone message, please leave the following information:
- Full patient name
- Patient date of birth
- NHS number (if known)
- Full patient address
- Patient contact number
- Patient GP
- Your full name and job title
- Your contact number
- Clear details of patient’s eating, drinking, swallowing and/or communication difficulties
To discuss a referral for an adult with learning disabilities:
For eating, drinking, swallowing or communication needs relating primarily to learning disabilities, please contact the relevant Learning Disability service.
For North Derbyshire, please phone 01246 565000 ext. 112 or visit DCHS Learning Disability Service
For South Derbyshire, please visit: DHCFT Disabilities Learning Service
What happens once we have accepted a referral:
We will look at the referral to decide whether the person needs an assessment and if so, how urgently.
After triage/assessment, we may provide advice or help carers support someone experiencing communication difficulties.
If therapy is needed, we will agree a personalised therapy and discharge plan, according to the person’s changing needs.
The links below take you to websites giving more information about individual needs. Please note the DCHS speech and language therapy service is not responsible for the content of external websites.
Communication and Voice
- Aphasia Now
- Communication Matters
- Speakability
- The British Stammering Association
- The National Association of Laryngectomy Clubs
Dementia
Head Injury
- Headway: The Brain Injury Association
Progressive Neurological Conditions
- Huntington’s Disease Association
- Motor Neurone Disease Association
- Multiple System Atrophy
- National Parkinson’s Foundation
- Parkinson’s Disease UK
- Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP)
- The Multiple Sclerosis Society
- The Myasthenia Gravis Association
Stroke
General Information
