💬 Speech and Language Therapy

Westminster Hall

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In a passionate parliamentary debate, MPs highlighted the critical role of speech and language therapy in transforming lives, emphasizing its importance for both children and adults struggling with communication. The discussion underscored the severe shortage of therapists and the long waiting lists, which are exacerbated by regional disparities in funding and service availability. Campaigners like Mikey Akers were celebrated for their efforts in raising awareness, with MPs calling for increased investment and better workforce planning to address the crisis. The government acknowledged the need for reform and promised to integrate speech and language therapy into their 10-year NHS plan, aiming to shift care from hospitals to communities and focus on prevention.

Summary

  • Introduction and Context: Dave Robertson opened the debate on speech and language therapy, referencing the importance of communication and acknowledging International Holocaust Memorial Day.

  • Importance of Speech and Language Therapy: Speech and language therapy is crucial for people of all ages, helping them to communicate effectively, which is essential for social inclusion and personal expression. It supports individuals with conditions such as apraxia, strokes, and Parkinson’s.

  • Personal Testimony: Mikey Akers, who started the petition, shared his struggles with apraxia and his determination to advocate for better access to speech and language therapy for others.

  • Current Challenges: There are significant waiting lists for speech and language therapy, with over 23,500 adults and more than 67,000 children and young people waiting. Access to therapy can depend on where someone lives, creating a “postcode lottery.”

  • Impact of Delays: Long waiting times can harm individuals’ confidence, social engagement, and overall wellbeing. Early intervention is crucial and can lead to significant improvements in people’s lives.

  • Social Justice Perspective: A quarter of children entering primary school have some form of speech, language, or communication need, which rises to 50% in the most deprived areas. There is a high prevalence of communication difficulties among children in young offender institutions.

  • Funding and Resource Management: Funding for speech and language therapy varies greatly across different regions, with some areas spending as little as 58p per person. There is a call for setting minimum standards and improving the funding situation.

  • Workforce Issues: There is a shortage of speech and language therapists, with nearly one in five roles currently vacant, attributed to burnout, insufficient support, and high workloads.

  • Government Plans: The government is working on a 10-year plan for the NHS that will focus on preventive care and community-based services, which could address the issues around speech and language therapy. A refreshed workforce plan is also on the agenda to tackle recruitment and retention.

  • Request for Action: There were calls for increased investment, more robust workforce planning, and ensuring equitable access to speech and language therapy across different sectors.

  • Appreciation and Conclusion: Thanks were extended to Mikey Akers and all who supported the petition, highlighting the need for continued advocacy to improve speech and language therapy services.

Divisiveness

The disagreement displayed in the session was minimal, with a strong sense of unanimity and collaboration across the House. The debate focused on the importance of speech and language therapy, and all participants expressed support for improving access and funding for these services. There were frequent mentions of cross-party agreement and a collective desire to see improvements, with members from different parties and even an independent member contributing positively to the discussion.

Key examples of the lack of disagreement include:

  • The opening speaker, Dave Robertson (Lichfield) (Lab), set a collaborative tone, expressing a desire for cross-party support and acknowledging the efforts of campaigners like Mikey.

  • Saqib Bhatti (Meriden and Solihull East) (Con) explicitly stated that he could not think of a single thing to disagree with in the opening speech and praised the collaborative efforts across parties on this issue.

  • Contributions from various members, including Mrs Sureena Brackenridge (Wolverhampton North East) (Lab), Shockat Adam (Leicester South) (Ind), and others, consistently reinforced the need for greater investment and support for speech and language therapy, without indicating any divergence of opinion.

  • Questions posed to the Minister for Care were largely seeking clarification and further details on government plans rather than challenging the policy itself. For instance, Dr Caroline Johnson (Sleaford and North Hykeham) (Con) sought more information about resources and future plans for the NHS workforce.

  • The Minister’s response was positive and aligned with the themes of the debate, acknowledging the issues and outlining the government’s commitment to address them, reinforcing the collaborative nature of the session.

  • The closing remarks by Dave Robertson further highlighted the unity of purpose among the members, thanking all participants for their contributions and emphasizing the shared goal of supporting speech and language therapy services.

Overall, the session was characterized by a unanimous call for action and improvement in speech and language therapy, with no instances of substantial disagreement or contention identified.