When Nicola Bush joined Lincolnshire Community Health Services NHS Trust (LCHS), therapy for adults who stammer had stopped following the retirement of the Specialist Dysfluency Speech and Language Therapist. Recruitment challenges meant patients were only seen for assessment, information and signposting to other services. LCHS took many steps to try and re-establish a specialist service including considering buying in stammering services from neighbouring NHS Trusts.
As only a quarter of patients could access out of county treatment, the team decided to focus on reviving a service in Lincolnshire – developed around the needs of the patients. Nicola focused on meeting those who had been waiting for input and commenced therapy. These stories pushed Nicola to make sure her patients were involved in the development of a new service; that they were given back their voice.
Initial consultations with patients involved letters, questionnaires and informal discussions to initially shape services. She then consulted more formally through a Patient Experience Event.
Feedback Nicola gathered from patients has led to:
- An increase in stammering clinics and flexible appointment times across Lincolnshire
- Development of a collection of stammering leaflets approved by adults who stammer and LCHS
- Implementation of a separate bell entry system, (where patients do not have to speak in to an intercom system) where required in stammering clinics
- Stammering service leaflets being sent out with patient appointment letters to reduce anxiety and improve attendance
- SMS text message appointment reminders being explored • Implementation of a web form on the LCHS Adult Speech and Language Therapy public webpage for patients to get in touch if they feel unable to ring in to amend or confirm appointments
- Nicola delivering training on Adult Acquired Neurogenic Stammering to junior therapists across Lincolnshire to improve Speech and Language Therapy skills when working with adults who stammer in the hospital setting
- Nicola looking to arrange support groups for people who stammer alongside their therapy, following comments that “Talking with other people with a similar condition has been helpful.”
- There is currently no waiting list for adults who stammer in Lincolnshire and all patients are seen for individual personalised therapy.
- Patients have reported the LCHS SLT Stammering Service provided by Nicola has ‘made a big difference to their lives’.
You can find out more about the Speech and Language Therapy service on the LCHS website: www.lincolnshirecommunityhealthservices.nhs.uk