Helping you communicate

The Speech and Language Therapy Service is for adults with communication difficulties, or who have difficulty eating and/or swallowing.

Communication difficulties

People with communication difficulties may have problems:

  • making speech sounds
  • understanding language
  • putting words together
  • with stammering
  • with their voice (such as persistent hoarseness)
  • with their social communication skills.

There are many medical conditions that could cause these.

Difficulty eating and/or swallowing

Difficulty eating and/or swallowing may be the result of injury, surgery, or a neurological condition such as a stroke.

What happens?

  • Assessment - First, your speech and language therapists will assess your difficulty.
  • Plan - If appropriate, they will work with you to develop an individual therapy / management programme
  • Support - Your therapist will support you as you work through your programme. They will help you manage your communication and/or feeding skills.  

How do I access the service?

For communication difficulties you can self-refer to a speech and language therapist by contacting your local team, see over. For eating/swallowing difficulties, the speech and language therapist will need a written referral from a relevant medical professional e.g. GP, consultant, district nurse etc

Find out more

NHS Choices

Speech and language therapy 

Stroke Association

Communication problems after stroke

Contact

Carlisle Speech & Language - Adult                   

Cumberland Infirmary
Newtown Road
Carlisle
CA27HY

Tel: 01228 814730/814346

Whitehaven Speech & Language - Adult

West Cumberland Hospital
Homewood Road
Hensingham
Whitehaven
CA28 8JG

Tel: 01946 693182 Ext 22907 or 01946 523112

Confidentiality

‘The Trust’s vision is to keep your information safe in our hands.’ We promise to use your information fairly and legally, and in-line with local and national policies. You have a right to understand how your information is used and you can request a copy of the information we hold about you at any time.

For further information on confidentiality contact the Information Governance Team:

Information.Governance@ncic.nhs.uk | 01228 603961

Feedback

We appreciate and encourage feedback, which helps us to improve our services. If you have any comments, compliments or concerns to make about your care, please contact the Patient, Advice & Liaison Service:

pals@ncic.nhs.uk | 01228 814008 or 01946 523818

If you would like to raise a complaint regarding your care, please contact the Complaints Department:

complaints@ncic.nhs.uk | 01228 936302