About the service
The Adult Speech & Language Therapy (SLT) Service assesses and manages people with swallowing, communication, voice and fluency difficulties caused by a range of different conditions. Anyone over the age of 18 can access the service provided you have a Gateshead GP.
Referrals are usually received from a doctor or a Health Care Professional, but self-referrals can be made.
Following referral, you will be contacted by telephone to find out more about your symptoms and help us to triage the referral. If required, you will be offered an initial assessment appointment and then a tailor-made management plan will be developed with you if treatment is required. We will liaise with your GP and any relevant professionals as required, and you may be referred on for further specialist investigations, though this will be fully discussed with you.
We aim to provide an excellent service and choose to go further to exceed your expectations through the time that you are in our care.
Our team consists of Speech and Language Therapists and Speech and Language Therapy Assistants working in the areas of acute medicine, rehabilitation, voice, and fluency. All staff can be contacted via the details below.
We will try to ensure you can speak to a member of staff, Mon-Fri 09.00 – 5.00pm. An answer phone facility is available at other times.
Gateshead SLT Adult service is based at Queen Elizabeth Hospital. Clients are seen on an inpatient basis at QEH, as an outpatient mainly at Bensham Hospital and in their own home.