Make a referral – ASLT

Referral criteria

In our Community SLT team, we accept referrals for people with a Medway GP who have an acquired swallow or communication impairment.

Swallow referrals

Please refer to our service if the patient has regular and ongoing signs of possible aspiration and laryngeal penetration such as coughing on food and drink, watery eyes and shortness of breath when eating and drinking, wet sounding voice post swallow, repeat chest infection that you think is related to eating and drinking.

Care Homes

Please see our page dedicated to supporting residents in care homes with their eating and drinking difficulties>

End of Life

Prior to referral, please see our advice sheet for strategies to support people who are nearing end of life with oral intake.

End of life – advice sheet

Gastro

We have noticed increased referrals for people with a diagnosis related to gastroenterology that may impact on swallow. SLT can provide some advise on reflux management. Patients with oesophageal swallowing difficulties will be more appropriately referred to the gastroenterology team to provide specialist assessment and management.

Adult Speech and Language – referral form

MCH Adult SLT team do not cover the following services, please refer to respective teams:

Adults living in Medway who have had a recent stroke: MCH Stroke Services

People living in Medway or Swale with weight loss: MCH Nutrition and Dietetics

People living in Medway who have had a brain injury and require 2 of the following therapies, SLT, OT, Physio: CBIT (Community Brain Injury Team)

Adults with a Learning Disability: ALD service – community learning disability team – Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust

Adults living in Swale with acquired speech, language and swallow needs: HCRG – speech and language therapy – North Kent Adult Community Services

Adults with Autism: Adult Autism and ADHD Service – Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust