Speech and language therapy team work to tackle swallowing problems in acute hospitals
It's common for NHS care to involve support from more than one organisation - and this can often be at the same time. To make sure people receive the best possible care it's essential that services can work together effectively and in a joined-up way.
NHFT's Speech and Language Therapy service is just one example of successful partnership working in action to improve the quality of care offered to patients. They have a specialist team embedded within Kettering General Hospital (KGH) to support people with swallowing problems.
Swallowing problems (dysphagia) can affect people in a range of situations but are more common in frail elderly people, those who have suffered neurological events like stroke or brain injury, and people with cancers, breathing conditions or progressive neurological conditions such as motor neurone disease, Parkinson's disease and dementia.
Swallowing problems can be distressing and over time can cause weight loss, dehydration, malnutrition and repeated chest infections, so timely treatment and support are vital.
NHFT's small team of Speech and Language Therapists works across the adult wards at KGH, where they provide specialist support for people with swallowing problems. They also provide training to doctors, nurses and healthcare assistants to help them understand the risks of swallowing problems and, importantly, how to identify them.
This helps to speed up referrals to the team, which means that patients can get help as quickly as possible. Therapists can then support ward teams to ensure the patients' needs are being considered as part of their overall care - including by making sure they are seated in the right position when eating, getting the right kind of food at meal times and having properly thickened drinks, if appropriate. Getting the right care at the right time means patients are better supported in their recovery and safe return home from hospital.
Principal Speech and Language Therapist and team lead Shikha Patel, pictured above centre alongside Therapists Lilly and Ianthe, said: "The team have worked really hard to develop and deliver dysphagia training across the wards and we're definitely seeing improvements. Referrals are coming through quicker, which means patients can be safely discharged earlier, and there's a better understanding of the condition among clinicians."