Our Service

Our service consists of the following pathways:

General medical inpatient teams, based at the Bristol Royal Infirmary and Weston General Hospital

We support inpatients with communication and swallowing difficulties relating to a wide variety of progressive neurological, age-related, trauma and orthopaedic, and general medical conditions. We provide assessment, rehabilitation, and education to support patients and their families (or carers) through all stages of admission: from A&E to discharge. At Weston General Hospital, we also provide care to patients on the stroke subacute rehabilitation unit.

Respiratory, cardiac, critical care and ECMO inpatient team, based at the Bristol Royal Infirmary

We provide assessment and support to inpatients on general and cardiac intensive care, high care respiratory, cardiac surgery and cardiology wards. We work closely within the multidisciplinary team to support patients with communication and/or swallowing difficulties, and contribute to tracheostomy weaning including one-way valve use and above cuff vocalisation techniques. We provide rehabilitation for swallowing and communication difficulties, as needed. We also explore augmentative and alternative communication methods.

Head and neck (H&N) team, based at St Michael's Hospital

We are a core part of the H&N multidisciplinary team. This team is involved with patients under the Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) and Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (OMFS) specialisms. We provide input to patients across their treatment journey. This includes meeting patients pre-operatively to find out their current function (including assessment of their swallowing, communication and jaw opening) and to provide them with information regarding any likely changes to their function following their planned surgical treatments. We work with patients on the ward following their surgery and then we see patients in outpatient clinics, often jointly with the doctors, dietitians and clinical nurse specialists. We work closely with patients who are about to have, or have undergone, laryngectomy surgery and provide key input into their education and rehabilitation.

Oncology and haematology team, based at St Michael's Hospital

We see patients who are under the care of a consultant at Bristol Haematology & Oncology Centre. We support patients whose swallowing or communication difficulties arise from a cancer or haematological condition, or from their treatments. Depending on the individual need, we can offer assessment, advice and therapy. This may be during an inpatient stay or as an outpatient, and at any stage of the person's journey.

ENT/voice team, based at St Michael's Hospital

We are co-located with the Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) department at St Michael's Hospital. We are an outpatient service and provide voice therapy in both individual and group sessions, in person and online. We also run monthly joint voice clinics with our ENT colleagues, and an SLT-led therapy endoscopy clinic where patients are able to view their larynx in action. We treat people with a wide range of voice and swallowing problems, structural and functional: post laryngeal surgery, voice strain or misuse (e.g. teachers, builders, call-centre workers), Trans voices, and many other voice and throat issues. We also provide training within the Trust and in the wider region.

Bristol and Weston general outpatient teams, based at St Michael's Hospital and Weston General Hospital

We are an outpatient service and see adults with swallowing and/or communication difficulties related to a range of neurological, respiratory, and other general medical conditions. All patients under our service will have an initial assessment and may then be offered follow-up appointments or a block of therapy. Appointments may be offered in person, via videocall, or via telephone, depending on the needs of the patient. Patients with swallowing difficulties may be referred for a videofluoroscopy. We are also part of the core multidisciplinary team at the South Bristol movement disorders clinic.