{"id":539,"date":"2026-07-20T17:01:00","date_gmt":"2026-07-20T16:01:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/carehomes\/services\/services-speech-and-language-therapy\/"},"modified":"2026-07-20T18:10:30","modified_gmt":"2026-07-20T17:10:30","slug":"services-speech-and-language-therapy","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/carehomes\/services-speech-and-language-therapy\/","title":{"rendered":"Speech and Language Therapy (SLT)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-light-accent-grey-background-color has-background\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<h2 id=\"who-are-we\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Who are we?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-regular-font-size wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:400\">Adult Community Speech and Language Therapists work with people who have problems with their swallowing, speech, language or voice. <br><br>We work with a wide variety of clients, including people who have had strokes, acquired brain injuries, progressive neurological conditions, head and neck cancer, stammering, voice impairment and degenerative disease such as dementia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-regular-font-size wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:400\">Adult Community SLT services are provided by NHS Lothian within each Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-pb-accordion-item c-accordion__item js-accordion-item no-js\" data-initially-open=\"false\" data-click-to-close=\"true\" data-auto-close=\"true\" data-scroll=\"true\" data-scroll-offset=\"0\" id=\"Contact-details-SLT\"><h2 id=\"at-5390\" class=\"c-accordion__title js-accordion-controller\" role=\"button\">Contact Details of NHS Adult Community SLT in each HSCP<\/h2><div id=\"ac-5390\" class=\"c-accordion__content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-light-accent-green-background-color has-background\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\">Contact Details<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Please note<\/strong> for email contact or referral, residents details should only be shared via an NHS secured email address.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-light-accent-grey-background-color has-background\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\">For more information on obtaining a secure email address please see the Secure Email Account page<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-3e41869c wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-text-align-center wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/carehomes\/secure-email-accounts\/\">Secure email account page<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-7387b849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Edinburgh<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-regular-font-size wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:400\">Edinburgh Adult Community Speech and Language Therapy Service<br>Scientific Block, Astley Ainslie Hospital<br>133 Grange Loan<br>Edinburgh<br>EH9 2HL<br>Email:&nbsp;<a href=\"mailto:SLT.EAC@nhs.scot\">SLT.EAC@nhs.scot<\/a><br>Tel: 0131 537 9577<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Midlothian<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-regular-font-size wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:400\">Midlothian Adult Community Speech and Language Therapy Service<br>Newbattle Medical Centre<br>Blackcot<br>Mayfield<br>Dalkeith<br>EH22 4AA<br>Email:&nbsp;<a href=\"mailto:SLT.MAC@nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk\">SLT.MAC@nhs.scot<\/a><br>Tel: 0131 454 9544<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-7387b849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">East Lothian<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-regular-font-size wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:400\">East Lothian Adult Speech and Language Therapy Service<br>East Lothian Community Hospital<br>Alderston Road<br>Haddington<br>EH41 3PF<br>Email:<strong>&nbsp;<\/strong><a href=\"mailto:SLT.ELAC@nhs.scot\">SLT.ELAC@nhs.scot<\/a><br>Tel: 01620 642 704<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">West Lothian<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-regular-font-size wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:400\">Speech &amp; Language Therapy Department<br>St John&#8217;s Hospital<br>Howden Road West<br>Livingston<br>EH54 6PP<br>Email:<strong>&nbsp;<\/strong><a href=\"mailto:SLT.WLAC@nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk\">SLT.WLAC@nhs.scot<\/a><br>Tel: 01506 524 191<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-light-accent-green-background-color has-background\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\" id=\"manual-for-mealtimes\">Manual for Mealtimes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-7387b849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"has-regular-font-size wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:400\">This resource has been developed by NHS Lothian SLT and is approved by the Care Inspectorate.<br><br>Please use this resource before requesting SLT assistance for issues with eating, drinking and swallowing.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<div data-wp-interactive=\"core\/file\" class=\"wp-block-file\"><object data-wp-bind--hidden=\"!state.hasPdfPreview\" hidden class=\"wp-block-file__embed\" data=\"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/carehomes\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2026\/07\/Manual-for-Mealtimes.pdf\" type=\"application\/pdf\" style=\"width:100%;height:299px\" aria-label=\"Embed of Manual for Mealtimes.\"><\/object><a id=\"wp-block-file--media-6f251f7c-714d-4d72-8393-9a40c27de70f\" href=\"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/carehomes\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2026\/07\/Manual-for-Mealtimes.pdf\">Manual for Mealtimes<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/carehomes\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2026\/07\/Manual-for-Mealtimes.pdf\" class=\"wp-block-file__button wp-element-button\" download aria-describedby=\"wp-block-file--media-6f251f7c-714d-4d72-8393-9a40c27de70f\">Download the manual for mealtimes in Care Homes<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-pb-accordion-item c-accordion__item js-accordion-item no-js\" data-initially-open=\"false\" data-click-to-close=\"true\" data-auto-close=\"true\" data-scroll=\"true\" data-scroll-offset=\"0\" id=\"referral-to-SLT\"><h2 id=\"at-5391\" class=\"c-accordion__title js-accordion-controller\" role=\"button\">Referral to SLT<\/h2><div id=\"ac-5391\" class=\"c-accordion__content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-light-accent-grey-background-color has-background\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<h3 id=\"who-should-i-refer\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Who should I refer?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-regular-font-size wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:400\">Anyone can request Speech and Language Therapy including the individual concerned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why Should I refer?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-pb-accordion-item c-accordion__item js-accordion-item no-js\" data-initially-open=\"false\" data-click-to-close=\"true\" data-auto-close=\"true\" data-scroll=\"true\" data-scroll-offset=\"0\" id=\"urgent\"><h2 id=\"at-5392\" class=\"c-accordion__title js-accordion-controller\" role=\"button\">Immediate\/Urgent Referral<\/h2><div id=\"ac-5392\" class=\"c-accordion__content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-light-accent-plum-background-color has-background\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\">Refer to SLT IMMEDIATELY if:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-regular-font-size wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:400\">The resident has had several recent chest infections and you think there is a connection with eating and drinking<br><strong>OR<\/strong><br>The resident has&nbsp;frequent signs of aspiration (food or drink going into the airway) when eating or drinking i.e. one or more of the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:400\" class=\"wp-block-list has-regular-font-size\">\n<li>Frequent and troublesome coughing during mealtimes<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>More than one choking incident, or one choke plus other signs<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Wet breath sounds or gurgly voice after swallowing<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Change of breathing after swallowing<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Change of colour after swallowing<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Eye watering whilst eating or drinking<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Nurse practitioners<\/strong> can use the Sci Gateway to refer to SLT, but only where an urgent referral is indicated.<br><strong>Care Home staff<\/strong> please use the <a href=\"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/carehomes\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2025\/03\/Speech-and-Language-Therapy-Referral-Form.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">referral form<\/a> in the <a href=\"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/carehomes\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2026\/07\/Manual-for-Mealtimes.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">manual for mealtimes<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-pb-accordion-item c-accordion__item js-accordion-item no-js\" data-initially-open=\"false\" data-click-to-close=\"true\" data-auto-close=\"true\" data-scroll=\"true\" data-scroll-offset=\"0\"><h2 id=\"at-5393\" class=\"c-accordion__title js-accordion-controller\" role=\"button\">Communication Issues<\/h2><div id=\"ac-5393\" class=\"c-accordion__content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-light-accent-green-background-color has-background\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<h3 id=\"communication-issues\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">When to refer<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-regular-font-size wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:400\">Where there has been a change, for example<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:400\" class=\"wp-block-list has-regular-font-size\">\n<li>&nbsp;If someone expresses concerns about&nbsp;their communication<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If someone experiences difficulties understanding what is being said to them<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If someone experiences difficulties expressing themselves or interacting with others<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>To&nbsp;gain practical advice and support&nbsp;for people with communication needs to enable their&nbsp;decision making capacity<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to refer<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:400\" class=\"wp-block-list has-regular-font-size\">\n<li>Nurse Practitioners can use the&nbsp;Sci Gateway referral<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Care Home staff should use the SLT&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/carehomes\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2025\/03\/Speech-and-Language-Therapy-Referral-Form.pdf\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/carehomes\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2025\/03\/Speech-and-Language-Therapy-Referral-Form.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">referral form<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-pb-accordion-item c-accordion__item js-accordion-item no-js\" data-initially-open=\"false\" data-click-to-close=\"true\" data-auto-close=\"true\" data-scroll=\"true\" data-scroll-offset=\"0\"><h2 id=\"at-5394\" class=\"c-accordion__title js-accordion-controller\" role=\"button\">Swallowing Issues<\/h2><div id=\"ac-5394\" class=\"c-accordion__content\">\n<p class=\"has-light-accent-green-background-color has-background has-regular-font-size wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:400\">Unless <strong>urgent<\/strong>, Care Home staff should complete the <a href=\"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/carehomes\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2026\/07\/Manual-for-Mealtimes.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">manual for mealtimes <\/a>and try self management strategies prior to referral to SLT.<br><br>To refer to SLT after completing the manual for mealtimes process you can refer using the <a href=\"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/carehomes\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2025\/03\/Speech-and-Language-Therapy-Referral-Form.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">referral form<\/a> in the manual. You should attach one completed\u00a0&#8220;problem chart&#8221;\u00a0and one completed\u00a0&#8220;&#8221;trial of changes record for each person.\u00a0\u00a0The Trial of Changes Record can be added to on different days.<br><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Returning the referral form<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-regular-font-size wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:400\">You can return the form to us via email or post. Please send the form to the SLT team in your <a href=\"#Contact-details-SLT\">local HSCP area.<\/a><br><br><strong>Please note<\/strong> for email contact or referral, residents details should only be shared via an NHS secured email address.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-light-accent-green-background-color has-background\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\">For more information on obtaining a secure email address please see the Secure Email Account page<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-3e41869c wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-text-align-center wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/carehomes\/secure-email-accounts\/\">Secure email account page<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-light-accent-grey-background-color has-background\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Education<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-regular-font-size wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:400\">For information on Speech and Language (SLT) education please see the following page:<br><br><a href=\"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/carehomes\/dysphasia-idssi\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Eating, Drinking and Swallowing &amp; International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative (IDDSI)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-regular-font-size wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:400\">Updated July 20th 2026 AP\/HS\/CA<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Who are we? Adult Community Speech and Language Therapists work with people who have problems with their swallowing, speech, language or voice. We work with a wide variety of clients, including people who have had strokes, acquired brain injuries, progressive neurological conditions, head and neck cancer, stammering, voice impairment and degenerative disease such as dementia.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":35,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":12,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"page-templates\/mainmenuvertical.php","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"class_list":["post-539","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"rttpg_featured_image_url":null,"rttpg_author":{"display_name":"","author_link":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/carehomes\/author\/"},"rttpg_comment":0,"rttpg_category":false,"rttpg_excerpt":"Who are we? Adult Community Speech and Language Therapists work with people who have problems with their swallowing, speech, language or voice. We work with a wide variety of clients, including people who have had strokes, acquired brain injuries, progressive neurological conditions, head and neck cancer, stammering, voice impairment and degenerative disease such as dementia.","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/carehomes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/539","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/carehomes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/carehomes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/carehomes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/35"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/carehomes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=539"}],"version-history":[{"count":20,"href":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/carehomes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/539\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":14602,"href":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/carehomes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/539\/revisions\/14602"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/carehomes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=539"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/carehomes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=539"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}