Waiting and Access in Therapy - Understanding Perspectives in SLT (#WaitUpSLT)

Today the Government has been celebrating significant reduction in waiting lists, with ' waiting lists in 20 areas falling three times faster than the national average '.  But behind the headlines lies an uncomfortable question: Who is being counted? And who is being left out? The 'Further Faster 20' programme sits within the Government's elective reform plan which ' covers a broad range of planned, non-emergency services including tests, scans, outpatient appointments, surgery and cancer treatment '.  Siva Anandaciva, Director of Policy, Events and Partnerships at The King's Fund has said : "It is a good thing that waiting lists in parts of England are coming down. But the reality check is that the overall hospital waiting list in England stood at 7.5 million last year and has only fractionally fallen to 7.4 million despite a full year of funding, energy and focus from the government and NHS. While progress is happening, it is slow going and the go...

In the last blog post, I talked about what to do whilst waiting for speech and language therapy for your child . I hope that the recommended strategies and supports will be useful but you may feel that they are an inadequate replacement for specialist speech and language therapy, personalised to your child.  You’re not alone. In England, long waits for community health services - including speech and language therapy - are an ongoing source of concern for parents and professionals alike. So, here is a guide to some steps you can take if you’re unhappy about the wait: how to advocate for your child, where to go for support, and how to raise your voice to push for change. 1. Start by Understanding the System You’re Navigating Children’s SLT in England is usually delivered by local NHS community health trusts, commissioned by Integrated Care Boards (ICBs). Waiting times vary hugely by area and are affected by: Numbers of referrals Vacancies and/or posts not being replaced once therapi...

If your child has been referred for speech and language therapy, you might be feeling a mix of relief, hope, and maybe some frustration. Waiting can feel like an endless and uncertain process, especially when you are worried about your child.  You might already have access to information and support during the wait, but if not, here are some ideas that might help: 1. Stay connected with your Speech and Language Therapy service If you've been referred to your local NHS community speech and language therapy service, you can contact them directly to: Check that your child's referral has been received Ask about current waiting times Find out whether they offer any drop-in sessions or workshops for families on the waiting list for support. Many services share useful advice and strategies on their websites, so it's worth exploring online. If you are considering private speech and language therapy support, you can find guidance about what to consider when choosing a therapist and ...

  Earlier this year, the UK government committed to developing an action plan to address long ‐ standing concerns about the availability of speech and language therapy. As a community we were hopeful that families and professionals had finally been heard and that change was coming. But as the months have passed, the promised plan still hasn’t materialised. The background Speech and language therapy has long been considered a ‘postcode lottery’, with too many people unable to access timely and effective support. Even before the pandemic, only 15% of respondents to a 2018 survey by I CAN and RCSLT felt that SLT was available for children and young people as required. Although the issues are longstanding, the situation has been further exacerbated by the pandemic, with services disrupted by staff sickness, difficulties accessing children and families and staff redeployment. Already recognised pre-pandemic as a shortage profession , SLT service managers have reported ...

  Earlier this month  NHS England (2025)  released the June 2025 waiting list figures for Community Health Services. Despite assurances last month heralding  a bold package of reforms , waiting lists have increased, with 325,902 children and young people now waiting for community health services (up from 318,867 in May 2025; a 2.21% increase). The number of children and young people waiting for speech and language therapy (SLT) support has increased by 3.69% , from 68,185 in May 2025 to 70,698 in June 2025. Data on waiting times for community health services has only been publicly shared since 2023 and reviewing this enables us to see trends across a year, as well as consider areas of progress and concern. As can be seen in figure 1, there seems to be a general trend for numbers of children and young people waiting to drop over the Summer months, perhaps associated with reduced referrals from educational settings during this time. The number of children and young peo...

  What is a research advisory group, and why should I get involved? A research advisory group is made up of people with lived experience who work alongside researchers to help guide and shape a project. By getting involved, you’ll have the chance to: ·        Influence how the research is designed and carried out —especially research focused on the views of speech and language therapy colleagues, children, and young people. ·        Be part of a  co-productive approach , where researchers and participants work together as equal partners. ·        Connect with others  who care about similar issues. ·        Learn more about how research works  and how your insights can make it better. Research is stronger and more meaningful when the people it affects are involved in shaping it - and that’s exactly what advisory groups are for. Wh...