WAIT UP SLT

WAIT UP SLT is a research project exploring perspectives and experiences of waiting within children's speech & language therapy services. Tweets by @GillianRudd

[WAIT UP SLT @WaitUpSLT]

WAIT UP is a research project aiming to explore experiences of waiting within children's speech and language therapy services in England from the perspective of:
- Speech and language therapy teams
- Parents & caregivers
- Children & young people
Please RT and follow for updates.

[WAIT UP SLT @WaitUpSLT]

Change is coming in NHS community health services. The Medium Term Planning framework and associated guidance sets the following targets for the end of 2028-29:
- 80% of community health service waits to be less than 18 weeks
- Waits over 1 year to have been eliminated

[WAIT UP SLT @WaitUpSLT]

📢 New #WaitUpSLT blog post:
What does the NHS Medium Term Planning Framework mean for SLT?

In this post, I look at:
✓ What the framework is
✓ What it says about community services
✓ What it might mean for children and families / SLT services

🔗 https://t.co/yBWwaswrgj

[WAIT UP SLT @WaitUpSLT]

Children's speech and language therapy waiting lists continue to grow.
In March 2026:
• 67,337 children and young people were waiting for speech and language therapy
• 17,345 had been waiting between 18 and 52 weeks
• 1,196 had been waiting over two years

[RCSLTpolicy @RCSLTpolicy]

💥 NEWS FLASH: #InvestInSLT campaign update!

🚨 @RCSLT & @MikeysWish_VDA are delighted to announce new supporters for the letter to @10DowningStreet.

▶️ Advisory group members @Hurtleyph and Dr Sam Burr
▶️ Chris Kamara, and Symbol UK

📰 More info here: https://t.co/mTUCiInIm9

[RCSLTpolicy @RCSLTpolicy]

@bhatti_saqib backed increasing SLT capacity but raised key concerns:

🚩The SLT action plan promised in 2024 has not yet been published
🚩No clarity on how many therapists are needed to deliver the reform
🚩No clear funding plan

[RCSLTpolicy @RCSLTpolicy]

@CarolineVoaden welcomed plans to embed SLTs in schools via the “Experts at Hand” service, which was recently announced, but warned that without a credible workforce plan, delivery is at risk.

[RCSLTpolicy @RCSLTpolicy]

@JOCampbellMP emphasised parental support for reforms that include additional speech and language therapists, alongside other specialists, and a stronger focus on early intervention and support delivered closer to home

[RCSLTpolicy @RCSLTpolicy]

Strong cross-party consensus in yesterday’s SEND debate: the system is not working for children and families.

@helenhayes_ described waiting times for diagnosis and support, including SLT, as
“one of the most appalling aspects of the current system.”

[RCSLTpolicy @RCSLTpolicy]

Yesterday’s Westminster Hall debate on SEND Provision and Reform, led by @GregoryStafford, highlighted major concerns across the system — including repeated calls for better access to speech and language therapy.

https://t.co/ZvlPAwlznA

[RCSLTpolicy @RCSLTpolicy]

💥BREAKING NEWS

📢 Over 50 organisations join the #InvestInSLT campaign call for @10DowningStreet to publish the long-promised Speech and Language Therapy Action Plan.

📨 Check out the @MikeysWish_VDA & @RCSLT co-ordinated letter to @Keir_Starmer here: https://t.co/mTUCiInIm9

[RCSLTpolicy @RCSLTpolicy]

Speech and language therapy for children with SEND was raised in Parliament this week by @elsieblundell MP

She asked how the government will ensure local authorities in financial difficulty can still deliver effective speech and language therapy for children. 🧵

[RCSLTpolicy @RCSLTpolicy]

🚨 With @educationgovuk SEND plans leaked, here are some tests @RCSLT will be applying to any proposals.

1⃣ Can CYP access the SLT they need?
2⃣ Is SLT provision in schools properly provided and funded?
3⃣ Is workforce planning & retention being improved?
https://t.co/Ri8w7eydiC

[David Pinto-Duschinsky MP @DavidPintoD]

2 million adults in the UK live with a speech impediment. I’m one of them.

We often face discrimination & barriers to getting on at work-& in public life. I’m determined to change that & today I asked the PM about it. I want to make sure every voice is heard in Parliament

[RCSLTpolicy @RCSLTpolicy]

🗣️ 'It is time to tear down those barriers.'

😊 Huge @RCSLT thanks to @DavidPintoD for asking @Keir_Starmer at PMQs yesterday what the Government are doing to help people with speech disabilities and differences to get the support they need, so that their voices can be heard.

[RCSLTpolicy @RCSLTpolicy]

🚨 With massive thanks to @SoniaKumarMP for coordinating this letter to @DHSCgovuk's @wesstreeting, the @RCSLT is proud to be one of signatories calling for strategic action on the allied health professionals workforce in the interests of the people we work with and support.

[National Health Executive @thenhenews]

Long waits for paediatrics, autism and ADHD diagnosis, and speech and language therapy risk lasting harm. New analysis calls for urgent action.

Featuring @NuffieldTrust.

Read more 👉 https://t.co/UHnvL6CN2n

#ChildHealth #CommunityCare #NHSDelays #HealthcareAccess

[WAIT UP SLT @WaitUpSLT]

New blog post:
Meet the WAIT-UP SLT team: Doctoral Supervisors https://t.co/vlQlFlkbPF

[WAIT UP SLT @WaitUpSLT]

📢 ICYMI: Waiting lists are falling - but not for children who need speech and language therapy (blog post)

https://t.co/cV3qZYN1Ti

[Prem Sikka @premnsikka]

Quarter of the 300,000 children in England waiting for 12 months for NHS community care such as hearing services, speech and language therapy & disability support.

Human cost of fiscal rules, lack of public investment.

Lives ruined by political choices.
https://t.co/fv7oXhC8fY

[WAIT UP SLT @WaitUpSLT]

Thousands of children facing 'catastrophic' waits for NHS community care:
"Tiya Currie's 6-year-old son, Arun had difficulties with his speech since he was just a toddler.But when Tiya tried to get help she faced "waiting list after waiting list."
@BBCNews
https://t.co/AT148wUzB0