Who can I pressure re SLT provision?

[beautifulgirls]

DD 5.5yrs has been under SLT since before she was 2yrs. We go on and off the waiting list for more therapy but it has been coming up a year and I have had nothing for her in that time. After 4 phone calls being unreturned I went to the centre today to find out what is happening only to be told that the 4 therapists they had, have all left now and they have just one therapist 2days a week and a super long list with no likelyhood of any sessions for DD in the near future. Once she finishes this year at school she will be passed onto another centre who work with the school - ie they are not going to be seeing her again most likely. I now have a managers name, but am coming up with the same headache of leaving messages and not getting a real person to talk to. I need some ideas about who, how and where I can escalate this not just for DD but for all the children in this area who are getting more or less zero speech help. I am well aware that countrywide provision is at best poor but this is just utterly ridiculous. Unless we push for change it is not going to happen.
Anyone been there done that? All help very much appreciated. We are in West Kent area if that makes any difference?

Thanks

YOu need to start a list of contacts. Every time you call, write it down. Every time you get a response, write down the outcome and send it to them in writing as 'clarification'. It might take up to a year, but eventually you will have enough evidence for a major complaint and then they will start listening.

Thanks Dels

Anyone else?

Help?? PLease??

Try writing to your local PCT - address should be in the phone book, or GP surgery can give it to you. They are usually the commisioners of the service and therefore decide who to fund/employ, how many of them, and concequently what sort of service can be provided in your area.

You need to apply for a statement of SEN. Get speech therapy listed in Part 3 as educational need. Then the local authority have to ensure its provided ie by paying privately if NHS can't meet need.

That will take months however but only way to get a legal right to it.

In meantime look at cerebra website - they have voucher scheme for children who aren't get speech therapy they need.

Write to the Chief Exec of your PCT detailing it as an official complaint with lack of provision and waiting time set out in a succinct and totally accurate manner.
I did this and got my daugter's visits increased from 3 a year to 6. An official complaint follows a timetable of response within a certan time frame.

Obtain an independent SALT report (if you have a statement) detailing what provision should be and have this included in the statement. We did this and got her provision to twice a week and then found a school to match.

Always write/email and keep copies rather than phone calls or phone as well.

There is a shortage of SALTs nationally and IMHO being a total PITA is the way forward.

Our SALT went on maternity leave and there was no cover. To try and get someone to see my dd I spoke to my specialist health visitor, dietician (my dd sees SALT for eating), consultant, ordinary health visitor, and physio. By the time they had all chased things up we eventually got to see someone - 4 month wait though. It was VERY frustrating as my dd was allowed to drink orally (she's tube fed) until a SALT had reassessed her. When she eventually did reassess her she said 'She definitely seems to want to drink!' She'd been ready for 3 months in my opinion!!!

Thank you - I'll start following up all these options. The system needs changing from the inside and I intend to do what I can to effect this if I possibly can!