Speech and Language Therapy - Information for care home staff (Eastern services)

The Royal Devon Speech and Language Therapy Service (Eastern) has changed how we manage swallowing referrals from care homes. This is due to increasing demand and longer waiting times. The aim is to get help and advice to you much more quickly.

Please continue to refer in the usual way. For more straightforward eating and drinking difficulties, we will ask you to first complete our Eating and Drinking: Good Practice Guideline. Please trial the suggestions for around 7–10 days, as they may be enough to support your resident. The completed guideline can then be added to the care plan as evidence of liaison with our service.

If difficulties remain after following the guideline, please return it (with details of the strategies tried and their outcomes) along with a new referral form. This information helps us prioritise appropriately.

Thank you for your support!