Giving Voice as Speech and Language Therapy service users

So far the Giving Voice campaign has focused on equipping speech and language therapists to highlight the impact of their work. Therapists have held events, secured positive publicity and met with local decision makers.

In the RCSLT’s latest survey 68.3% of our members responded to say that their speech and language therapy services have experienced cuts that are affecting service users.

The effects of cuts include:

-longer waiting times for children in need of an assessment or therapy sessions

-less funding for mainstream school services

-stroke patients only getting help with their swallowing, not their communication skills

There is no doubt that service users are now being directly affected by cuts; it is time to invite you to take part in the Giving Voice campaign whether or not your local therapists are involved.

How you can help support the Giving Voice campaign

It can be hard for professionals to challenge decisions that are being made about the service they work for. You are free to speak out about the experience you have had as a patient. The government is especially interested in hearing patients’ opinions on services. By taking part in the Giving Voice campaign you can help protect and grow speech and language therapy for the future.

To help the campaign you could:

•  Write to your MP and explain how speech and language therapy helped transform your life, as well as saying you are worried that services are being cut.

•   Work with your speech and language therapist to tell the good news story about how they helped you, and have this story told in the local newspaper or on the radio.

•   Contact your local council and explain how speech and language therapy helped transform your life, as well as saying you are worried that services are being cut.

• If you are being affected by a cut or change to a local service, bring this to the attention of your local press and politicians.

Download your campaign briefing here. 

A communication accessible briefing about Giving Voice can be found here. To read the stories of other service users who have benefited from Speech and Language Therapy, click here.

Thank you

Your personal story will help make the Giving Voice campaign a success. Thank you for taking the time and energy to help increase understanding of speech and language therapy and to ensure it continues to be available for all who need it.

Please let us know if you have done something to help the campaign. You can email us on campaigns@rcslt.org or you can telephone us on 0207 378 3003.