Speech and Language Therapy
Adult Speech and language therapy is provided at Dorset County Hospital for people aged 18 years and over. Qualified and registered speech and language therapists deliver the service in accordance with their professional body the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists.
We provide both an inpatient and outpatient service and work with people with acquired speech, voice, communication and/or swallowing difficulties. Our speech therapists specialise in stroke rehabilitation, critical care, palliative care, head and neck surgery and voice disorders, and elderly care.
We see inpatients with the following conditions, as well as patients with no confirmed diagnosis: stroke, acquired brain injury, cancer, dementia and progressive neurological diseases such as Motor Neurone Disease, Multiple Sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease.
The outpatient service takes referrals for patients with voice disorders and disorders as a consequence of head and neck cancer. We work closely with the multidisciplinary team to jointly run the Videofluoroscopy Clinic and Head and Neck Clinic.
Throughout the different services within the hospital, Speech and Language Therapy work in partnership with individuals and their families or carers, and other professions and agencies. Our main goal is to maximise the person’s communication potential and/or minimise the risks of eating and drinking impairments.
How to refer
We accept referrals from within hospital via our ICE online referral system from doctors/consultants, GPs and specialist nurses.
Contact us
Speech and Language Therapy Team Office
Rehabilitation Department
Damers House
Dorset County Hospital
Williams Avenue
Dorchester
DT1 2JY
Telephone: 01305 255165