Description of Service:

The Adult Speech and Language Department offers an assessment and treatment service for Clients who have communication, swallowing or voice difficulties and who are under the care of a Mater Hospital Consultant. These difficulties may be as the result of a stroke, head injury, necessary surgery involving the mouth or throat, or due to other causes.

In many cases the Client will want to have his/her family, carer or partner involved in the treatment process and this is very much welcomed. In these cases information is shared between the Therapist and family throughout treatment with the aim of getting the best possible result for the Client.

The Speech and Language Therapist works as part of a team with all of those involved in treatment e.g. Doctor, Nurse, Dietician, Occupational Therapist, Physiotherapist, Social Worker etc. This team shares information so that treatment offered to the Client is co-ordinated and everyone on the team is aware of progress that is being made in other areas.

Comments are welcomed from Clients and their Families, Carer’s etc, on what they think of the service and on any changes they might recommend for improvements.

The primary focus is on inpatient services with follow up in the Community Services, where available, on discharge from Hospital.

The Department has been accredited by the Trinity College faculty of Health Sciences for the training of Speech and Language Therapy Students.

Records:

• Individual Client files are held in the Speech and Language Department. Therapists also make regular notes in the Client’s Main Hospital Chart for the duration of a Client’s inpatient stay.

• In some cases with Client consent, video or audio recordings are made to assist in treatment or for teaching purposes. These records are also held in the department.

Access to the Service:

• Patients are referred directly to the Therapist by a Mater Hospital Consultant.

• Students training in the Department are allocated their places through the Third Level Institution not by the Hospital.

Contact Names/Numbers:

Ms. Una Cunningham 8034107; Fax: 8034108

e.mail: slt@mater.ie