General medical/neurological wards
We work across the hospital wards, alongside the wider multidisciplinary team, to provide support to individuals with a range of speech, language and swallowing difficulties. These may be due to:
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progressive neurological conditions (e.g. parkinson’s disease, motor neurone disease, multiple sclerosis and huntington’s disease)
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dementia
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respiratory conditions (e.g. COPD)
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being acutely unwell/requiring critical care support
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brain injury
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approaching the end of life
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being post-surgery
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mental health issues
We aim to provide patient-centered, holistic care for individuals referred to our service through timely assessment, diagnosis, management, support, therapy, liaison with patients, families and carers and ensuring we make appropriate onward inpatient and community referrals.
Voice
At Chesterfield Royal Hospital, the Speech and Language Therapy (SLT) team accept referrals for individuals with a voice disorder following instrumental assessment of the larynx by an Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) specialist. We work closely with ENT in assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of these patients.
Individuals with a voice disorder may present with aphonia, a complete absence of voice, or dysphonia. Dysphonia refers to changes to features of voice such as quality, pitch, volume or resonance. These changes can vary in severity and can impact individuals differently, particularly if they use their voice for work.
Our specialist SLTs aim to educate and advise patients on good voice care. We aim to provide timely and thorough assessment, management, and therapy intervention specific to the individual, identifying appropriate onward referrals. Therapy is tailored to individual needs and aims to restore/ improve voice quality, improve throat comfort levels, provide education on looking after voice and how to prevent further episodes of voice difficulty.
Swallowing can be affected by many things including medical conditions, treatments, stress and tiredness and excessive tension in the throat muscles. SLT’s provide information on how to make eating and drinking easier and/ or safer. Advice may include positioning, food/ drinks texture changes, useful aids and adaptations.
Videofluoroscopy
For some patients a more detailed analysis of swallowing is indicated. At Chesterfield Royal Hospital, both inpatients and outpatients may be referred for a Videofluoroscopy examination. Our specialist SLTs look at the oral, pharyngeal, and oesophageal stages of the swallow in more detail than can be gained at a bedside assessment.
Head and Neck Cancer
Head and neck cancer is the general name for many forms of cancer eg. Lips, mouth, tongue, throat, tonsil, larynx, salivary glands, nose and sinuses. Treatments include radiotherapy, chemotherapy, surgery or a combination. The cancer or the treatment can cause problems with speech, voice or swallowing. SLT’s support the patient from diagnosis onwards, and are more particularly focused on quality of life.
Stroke Unit
We work on an acute and rehabilitation stroke unit, with people who have communication and/or swallowing difficulties. We also work as part of the early supported discharge team to assist people to adjust to life at home after their stroke.
As a team we aim to:
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Assess and advise on the management of swallowing and communication difficulties.
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Provide appropriate therapy programmes.
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Support individuals and their families/carers to adapt and adjust to a range of communication and swallowing difficulties.
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Ensure individuals to eat and drink safely, where possible.
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Work with the multi-disciplinary team to optimise an individual’s rehabilitation potential.
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Enable and support individuals to participate in decision making processes.
Our focus is on acquired communication and swallowing difficulties:
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Dysphagia
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Aphasia
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Dysarthria
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Apraxia of speech