Who can refer?
Anyone can request Speech and Language Therapy including the individual concerned.
How do I refer?
Communication
- Nurse Practitioners can use the Sci Gateway referral
- Care Home staff should use the SLT referral form
Swallowing
- Care home staff should use the SLT referral form. Unless the referral is urgent, they should attach the problem chart and trial of changes record. Only one Eating and Drinking Problem Chart and one Eating and Drinking Trial of changes Record needs to be completed for each person. The Trial of Changes Record can be added to on different days.
- Nurse practitioners can use the Sci Gateway, but only where an urgent referral is indicated by the criteria for immediate referral on page 5 of the Manual for Mealtimes, also listed below.
Immediate referrals are indicated when:
- The resident has had several recent chest infections and you think there is a connection with eating and drinking; or
- The resident has frequent signs of aspiration (food or drink going into the airway) when eating or drinking i.e. one or more of the following:
- frequent and troublesome coughing during mealtimes
- more than one choking incident, or one choke plus other signs
- wet breath sounds or gurgly voice after swallowing
- change of breathing after swallowing
- change of colour after swallowing
- eye watering whilst eating or drinking
Returning the referral form
You can return the form to us via email or post. Please see contact details below.
Please only email the form if you have a SECURE email, e.g. nhs.scot, gsx.gov or local gov.
For more information on obtaining an NHS secure email address please see the Secure Emails Accounts page
Contact Details
Edinburgh
Edinburgh Adult Community Speech and Language Therapy Service
Psychology Hut, Astley Ainslie Hospital
133 Grange Loan
Edinburgh
EH9 2HL
Email: SLT.EAC@nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk
Tel: 0131 537 9577
Midlothian
Midlothian Adult Community Speech and Language Therapy Service
Newbattle Medical Centre
Blackcot
Mayfield
Dalkeith
EH22 4AA
Email: SLT.MAC@nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk
Tel: 0131 454 9544
East Lothian
East Lothian Adult Speech and Language Therapy Service
East Lothian Community Hospital
Alderston Road
Haddington
EH41 3PF
Email: SLT.ELAC@nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk
Tel: 01620 642 704
West Lothian
Speech & Language Therapy Department
St John’s Hospital
Howden Road West
Livingston
EH54 6PP
Email: SLT.WLAC@nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk
Tel: 01506 524 191
Further information
For information on the Speech and Language (SLT) service and the manual for mealtimes please see the following webpages.
Speech and Language: Service and information
Speech and Language: Education – Manual for Mealtimes
