SLT - FOI Response Register

FoI Number
2024-412
Subject
SLT
Date Received
18/10/2024
Request and Response

For each of the questions, we are asking for 5 years’ worth of data. If this is not available, please provide data for as far back as possible.

We have asked for data for adult community services, adult learning disability services and adult acute services. We are aware that the way adult’s services data is recorded across different areas may vary. If it is the case that you cannot split the data this way, please could you provide the data for the combined services, and specify that you have done so?

Adult Community Service

Community Definition: Outpatient speech and language therapy services in community settings (i.e. not outpatient services delivered within an acute setting), domiciliary, community hospitals, care homes etc.

See attached spreadsheet

Note: Where we have given <5 answers, this is because NHS Shetland considers that providing more specific information carries a high risk of identifying individuals and/or disclosing information about individuals. As such and in accordance with FOISA s 16(1), NHS Shetland confirms that it holds the information requested but that it is exempt from disclosure under FOISA s 38(1)(b) as read with s 38 (2A) as the information constitutes personal data and disclosure would breach the confidentiality of the data subjects.

1.         Coverage

a.         What geographical area does your speech and language therapy service cover?

b.         Which HSCPs and health boards does your SLT service cover?

c.         What is the estimated total population served by your SLT service?

d.         How many beds in settings such as care homes, community hospitals, hospices etc. does your service cover? If your service includes provision such as hospital at home, you do not need to include this in the response.

 

2.         How many total referrals were received by the service in 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, and 2020?

 

3.         Please detail the following for 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021 and 2020.

a.         How many adults were waiting for initial contact on 1st September*.  Please break this down by how many were waiting:

i.          Less than 12 weeks

ii.         12 to 18 weeks

iii.        19 weeks to 26 weeks

iv.        27 weeks to 52 weeks

v.         1 year to 2 years

vi.        over two years

 

b.         The longest waiting time for initial contact for adults speech and language therapy on 1st September.*

c.         How many adults were waiting for individualised or group therapy for speech and language therapy on 1st September.  Please break this down by how many were waiting:

i.          Less than 12 weeks

ii.         12 to 18 weeks

iii.        19 weeks to 26 weeks

iv.        27 weeks to 52 weeks

v.         1 year to 2 years

vi.        over two years

d.         The longest wait to begin adult individualised or group speech and language therapy on 1st September, from initial contact to therapy start date.*

e.         The number of patients waiting for a dysphagia assessment on 1st September. Please break this down by how many were waiting:

i.          Less than 48 hours

ii.         2-10 days

iii.        10 days to 12 weeks

iv.        13 weeks to 18 weeks

v.         19 weeks to 26 weeks

vi.        27 weeks to 52 weeks

vii.       1 year+

f.          The longest waiting time for a dysphagia assessment on 1st September.

 

*For a., b. and d., please define ‘initial contact’ as contact where the patient received input from a Speech and Language Therapist that added value to their care / moved their care forward. (This could include assessment, advice, education, signposting, but doesn’t include administrative letters or calls.) If you do not record ‘initial contact’ in this way, please provide your definition and the associated data. 

 

4.         What was the overall budget for the community adult speech and language therapy service in the financial years 2024/2025, 2023/2024, 2022/2023, 2021/2022 and 2020/2021.

 

5.         Please confirm how many whole time equivalent (WTE) speech and language therapists were employed in the community adult service on 1st September 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021 and 2020.

 

6.         Please confirm how many whole time equivalent (WTE) speech and language therapist vacancies were held in the community adult service on 1st September 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021 and 2020.

 

7.         Please confirm how many whole time equivalent (WTE) speech and language therapist assistants were employed in the community adult service on 1st September 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021 and 2020.

 

8.         Please confirm how many whole time equivalent (WTE) speech and language therapy assistant vacancies were held in the community adult service on 1st September 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021 and 2020.

 

 

Adult Learning Disability Service (ALD)

ALD Definition: Speech and language therapy services designed to support Adults with a Learning Disability.

If you are unable to split your recorded data by ALD and community, please indicate the proportion of time and resource spent on each.

Coverage

  1. What geographical area does your speech and language therapy service cover?
  2. Which HSCPs and health boards does your SLT service cover?
  3. What is the estimated total population served by your SLT service?
  4. How many beds in settings such as care homes, community hospitals, hospices etc. does your service cover? If your service includes provision such as hospital at home, you do not need to include this in the response.

 

  1. How many total referrals were received by the service in 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, and 2020?

Please detail the following for 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021 and 2020.

  1. How many adults were waiting for initial contact on 1st September*.  Please break this down by how many were waiting:
    • Less than 12 weeks
    • 12 to 18 weeks
    • 19 weeks to 26 weeks
    • 27 weeks to 52 weeks
    • 1 year to 2 years
    • over two years
  2. The longest waiting time for initial contact for adults speech and language therapy on 1st September.*
  3. How many adults were waiting for individualised or group therapy for speech and language therapy on 1st September?  Please break this down by how many were waiting:
    • Less than 12 weeks
    • 12 to 18 weeks
    • 19 weeks to 26 weeks
    • 27 weeks to 52 weeks
    • 1 year to 2 years
    • over two years
  4. The longest wait to begin adult individualised or group speech and language therapy on 1st September, from initial contact to therapy start date.*
  5. The number of patients waiting for a dysphagia assessment on on 1st September. Please break this down by how many were waiting:
    • Less than 48 hours
    • 2-10 days
    • 10 days to 12 weeks
    • 13 weeks to 18 weeks
    • 19 weeks to 26 weeks
    • 27 weeks to 52 weeks
    • 1 year+
  6. The longest waiting time for a dysphagia assessment on 1st September.

Please define ‘initial contact’ as contact where the patient received input from a Speech and Language Therapist that added value to their care / moved their care forward. (This could include assessment, advice, education, signposting, but doesn’t include administrative letters or calls.) If you do not record ‘initial contact’ in this way, please provide your definition and the associated data. 

  1. What was the overall budget for the ALD service in the financial years 2024/2025, 2023/2024, 2022/2023, 2021/2022 and 2020/2021.
  2. Please confirm how many whole time equivalent (WTE) speech and language therapists were employed in the ALD service on 1st September 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021 and 2020.
  3. Please confirm how many whole time equivalent (WTE) speech and language therapist vacancies were held in the ALD service on 1st September 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021 and 2020.
  4. Please confirm how many whole time equivalent (WTE) speech and language therapist assistants were employed in the ALD service on 1st September 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021 and 2020.
  5. Please confirm how many whole time equivalent (WTE) speech and language therapy assistant vacancies were held in the ALD service on 1st September 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021 and 2020.

Adult Acute Service

Acute Definition: Inpatient services in the acute setting and outpatient services, where the service is delivered within the acute setting.

 

Coverage

  1. What geographical area does your speech and language therapy service cover?
  2. Which HSCPs and health boards does your SLT service cover?
  3. What is the estimated total population served by your SLT service?
  4. How many beds does your service cover?
  5. How many referrals were received by the service in 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, and 2020?

 

Please detail the following for 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021 and 2020.

  1. How many adults were waiting for initial contact on 1st September*.  Please break this down by how many were waiting:
    • Less than 12 weeks
    • 12 to 18 weeks
    • 19 weeks to 26 weeks
    • 27 weeks to 52 weeks
    • 1 year to 2 years
    • over two years
  2. The longest waiting time for initial contact for adults speech and language therapy on 1st September.*
  3. How many adults were waiting for individualised or group therapy for speech and language therapy on 1st September?  Please break this down by how many were waiting:
    • Less than 12 weeks
    • 12 to 18 weeks
    • 19 weeks to 26 weeks
    • 27 weeks to 52 weeks
    • 1 year to 2 years
    • over two years
  4. The longest wait to begin adult individualised or group speech and language therapy on 1st September, from initial contact to therapy start date.*
  5. The number of patients waiting for a dysphagia assessment on on 1st September. Please break this down by how many were waiting:
    • Less than 48 hours
    • 2-10 days
    • 10 days to 12 weeks
    • 13 weeks to 18 weeks
    • 19 weeks to 26 weeks
    • 27 weeks to 52 weeks
    • 1 year+
  6. The longest waiting time for a dysphagia assessment on 1st September.

 

Please define ‘initial contact’ as contact where the patient received input from a Speech and Language Therapist that added value to their care / moved their care forward. (This could include assessment, advice, education, signposting, but doesn’t include administrative letters or calls.) If you do not record ‘initial contact’ in this way, please provide your definition and the associated data. 

  1. What was the overall budget for the acute service in the financial years 2024/2025, 2023/2024, 2022/2023, 2021/2022 and 2020/2021.
  2. Please confirm how many whole time equivalent (WTE) speech and language therapists were employed in the adult acute service on 1st September 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021 and 2020.
  3. Please confirm how many whole time equivalent (WTE) speech and language therapist vacancies were held in the adult acute service on 1st September 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021 and 2020.
  4. Please confirm how many whole time equivalent (WTE) speech and language therapist assistants were employed in the adult acute service on 1st September 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021 and 2020.
  5. Please confirm how many whole time equivalent (WTE) speech and language therapy assistant vacancies were held in the adult acute service on 1st September 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021 and 2020.