How would it work seeing a private as well as NHS SALT?

[Indelible]

Does anyone combine NHS and private SALT, and how does it work in practice? I'm wondering about the possibility of trying to see a private SALT in between usual appointments as I am feeling in need of some additional guidance to help me help DD. However I don't want to lose the NHS appointments in case we couldn't afford to keep up the private ones, nor would I want our NHS SALT to think we weren't happy with her. Are you "allowed" to have both? Can you get one or two private SALT appointments just to get some extra input?

We do too.Our private SALT liased with the NHS one,which saved us abit of money initially,as an assessment by the private SALT was £75,but she rang our NHS one & so we just got charged an initial fee of £50.
We get no one on one NHS,it is shared with 3 other verbal children(dd2 is completely non-verbal),once a week for about 20 mins,it's ridiculous.Have complained,but they do not have the resources for more/individual therapy,which lead to us going down the private route.
We are just starting with the combined,but I am very impressed with the private SALT & would recommend it,if finances allow!!

Can I ask if your NHS SALT was a bit put out or upset by you getting a private one? Its something I have thought about as we only get termly visits, but I worry that his current SALT would think we were critisizing her.

Plus, how do you find one?

I just asked this too..interesting to read more answers.

I was worried what our NHS SALT would think,but decided that dd2's need for therapy was more important.I must admit I didn't ask her what she thought,I just told her dd2 needed more SALT & as the NHS couldn't provide it,this had lead us to finding a private one,as justabout said,most NHS SALT's realise they are spread too thinly & understand a parent's concern for wanting more SALT.
Our NHS SALT said she was happy to liase with the private one,and didn't seem at all surprised.
If we hadn't employed the services of a private SALT,our dd2 would have been without any prof SALT for 2.5 months,which frankly,is terrible & makes me very angry!!!

Over the summer hols,I meant!!

Thank you all, this is really helpful. I will look into doing this then.

Definately get private SALT going - our DD has had no NHS input for 13 months now, despite having her last report saying she should be considered a priority. I am SO fed up with this now.