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Gillian Rudd

@gillianrudd.bsky.social
242 followers 263 following 35 posts

Speech & Language Therapist; Joint Course Lead MSc SLT at BCU; DHealth candidate (#WaitUpSLT); Lily Mae Foundation Trustee; Parent.Views own. #bskySPEECHIES

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Reposted by Gillian Rudd
Schools Week @schoolsweek.bsky.social · 10/07/2026
The government doesn’t know how many speech and language therapists are working in council services ahead of the rollout of its new experts at hand service, a minister has admitted schoolsweek.co.uk/dfe-in-the-d...
schoolsweek.co.uk
DfE in the dark over speech and language therapist supply
Schools minister admits they don't have data on how many of the critical workers are on hand
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Gillian Rudd @gillianrudd.bsky.social · 15/06/2026
On the train to London with some @waitupslt.bsky.social related reading 📚
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Reposted by Gillian Rudd
WAIT-UP SLT / Gillian Rudd @waitupslt.bsky.social · 10/06/2026
Great new blog from @thekingsfund.bsky.social highlighting the importance of attending to the experience of waiting, alongside the length of the wait.
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Gillian Rudd @gillianrudd.bsky.social · 24/03/2026
Quick trip to London for #InvestInSLT this weekend. Follow @mikeys-wish.bsky.social @peterdjust.bsky.social for updates!
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Reposted by Gillian Rudd
WAIT-UP SLT / Gillian Rudd @waitupslt.bsky.social · 26/01/2026
Thousands of children facing 'catastrophic' waits for NHS community care: "Tiya Currie's six-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", she said." www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Children's early development at risk with year-long NHS waits
A quarter of the 300,000 children waiting for community NHS care have spent more than a year waiting.
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Reposted by Gillian Rudd
WAIT-UP SLT / Gillian Rudd @waitupslt.bsky.social · 15/01/2026
New #WaitUpSLT blog post: Waiting Lists Are Falling - But Not for Children Who Need Speech and Language Therapy waitupslt.blogspot.com/2026/01/wait...
waitupslt.blogspot.com
Waiting Lists Are Falling - But Not for Children Who Need Speech and Language Therapy
Today the Government has been celebrating significant reduction in waiting lists, with ' waiting lists in 20 areas falling three times faste...
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Reposted by Gillian Rudd
WAIT-UP SLT / Gillian Rudd @waitupslt.bsky.social · 13/01/2026
On 7 Jan 2026 @andrewlewinmp.bsky.social tabled a written Q asking DHSC what steps are being taken to reduce waiting. @karinsmythmp.bsky.social acknowleged "how important it is to patients and clinicians that they receive and deliver treatment faster" but no mention of svs beyond elective care.
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Reposted by Gillian Rudd
Peter Just @peterdjust.bsky.social · 14/01/2026
🚨 The RCSLT responds to the Home Office's Freedom from Violence and Abuse strategy. ✅ We support the strategy's ambition to reduce violence against women and girls. ❌ We are very concerned it fails to reference communication support. 📰 Full story below. www.rcslt.org/news/rcslt-w...
rcslt.org
RCSLT warns new Freedom from Violence and Abuse Strategy fails to address communication barriers | RCSLT
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Gillian Rudd @gillianrudd.bsky.social · 29/12/2025
The Lily Mae Foundation supported me through the worst of times and I will be forever grateful. I'm therefore honoured to have served as a Trustee for them since Summer 2024 and to have contributed to the development of our 2024-25 Impact Report ⬇️. #BabyLoss heyzine.com/flip-book/48...
heyzine.com
Online Flipbook
Created with the Heyzine flipbook maker
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Reposted by Gillian Rudd
Loren @meetdld.bsky.social · 03/12/2025
If you are considering signing up for a research project to share your lived experience, go for it! I joined several & they have given me amazing experiences including speaking at the RCSLT conference & NAPLIC + meeting incredible people raising awareness & improving the lives of people with #DLD.
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Gillian Rudd @gillianrudd.bsky.social · 02/12/2025
"If we're angry, it's because we're worried about our child" "Coproduction leads to better services, it shouldn't be a tick box". Important reminders from Diana Boyd at the @nhselect.bsky.social CYP SLT Improvement Forum encouraging practitioners to reflect on how svs are experienced by families.
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Reposted by Gillian Rudd
WAIT-UP SLT / Gillian Rudd @waitupslt.bsky.social · 29/11/2025
Thank you @stamma.bsky.social for the opportunity to present about #WaitUpSLT at the Research Arena this morning. Huge thanks to Kirsten Howells for being a superb facilitator and to all the attendees for their thoughtful feedback and questions ⭐
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Reposted by Gillian Rudd
Peter Just @peterdjust.bsky.social · 27/11/2025
🚨 Today, Richard Quigley MP has a debate on protecting children from domestic abuse. 📋 The RCSLT's newly published briefing on domestic abuse and speech and language therapy highlights the links between domestic abuse and speech, language, and communication: www.rcslt.org/policy-and-i...
RCSLT briefing on domestic abuse and speech and language therapy.
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Gillian Rudd @gillianrudd.bsky.social · 26/11/2025
What a privilege to be chairing two brilliant #RCSLTConf25 sessions today on: ⭐ Paediatric assessment and intervention with @vanigupta.bsky.social, Steph Scott and Dr Jenna Charlton ⭐ Working with people who stammer with Sarah Caughter and Dr Ronan Miller (and me)
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Reposted by Gillian Rudd
Peter Just @peterdjust.bsky.social · 25/11/2025
🚨With the Budget just a day away, some quotes from ministers and NICE over the past few months which kind of highlight why the Govt needs to #InvestInSLT and publish its SLT Action Plan. 1/
“Speech and language therapists break down communication barriers, unlocking learning, inclusion, and opportunity for every child. They play a critical role in early intervention for children and young people.” Georgia Gould, education minister, September 2025Quote by Dr Zubir Ahmed, UK Minister for Health Innovation and Safety, November 2025: ‘We recognise the impact that long waits to access speech and language and occupational therapy can have on the individual, their families and carers. We are working closely with NHS England to improve access to community health services and on actions to reduce long waits for people of all ages.’Quote by Baroness Merron, UK Minister for Women's Health and Mental Health, November 2025: ‘The Government recognises the important role that speech and language therapy services play in supporting people to overcome health and social barriers and enhancing overall quality of life.’Extract on guideline on rehabilitation for chronic neurological disorders including acquired brain injury:  ‘Improved speech, language and communication may also increase participation in education and employment offering broader social and economic benefits.’
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WAIT-UP SLT / Gillian Rudd @waitupslt.bsky.social · 24/11/2025
New #WaitUpSLT blog post: What to do if you are unhappy with the wait for children's speech and language therapy in England. waitupslt.blogspot.com/2025/11/what...
waitupslt.blogspot.com
What to do if you are unhappy with the wait for children's speech and language therapy (SLT)
In the last blog post, I talked about what to do whilst waiting for speech and language therapy for your child . I hope that the recommended...
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Reposted by Gillian Rudd
Peter Just @peterdjust.bsky.social · 23/11/2025
📋 You can read the RCSLT's written evidence to the @hlautismactcom.parliament.uk on the link below. 2/2 committees.parliament.uk/writtenevide...
committees.parliament.uk
The Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT) is the professional body for speech and language therapists (SLTs), speech and language therapy students and support workers, with more than 22,000 members across the UK.
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Reposted by Gillian Rudd
Peter Just @peterdjust.bsky.social · 23/11/2025
🚨 The @hlautismactcom.parliament.uk has published its report. 🔍 The RCSLT's analysing the report but we're pleased to see: 1⃣ our evidence on speech, language, and communication quoted 2⃣ echoes of our #InclusiveParliament work 1/ committees.parliament.uk/committee/77...
committees.parliament.uk
New autism strategy must deliver change for autistic people - Committees - UK Parliament
This is the key conclusion reached by the House of Lords special inquiry committee on the Autism Act 2009 in its report ‘Time to deliver: The Autism Act 2009 and the new autism strategy’.&...
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Gillian Rudd @gillianrudd.bsky.social · 22/11/2025
Bit of DHealthing this afternoon with my little helper. @waitupslt.bsky.social #AcademicTwitter
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Reposted by Gillian Rudd
WAIT-UP SLT / Gillian Rudd @waitupslt.bsky.social · 21/11/2025
"In September 2024, more than 64,000 children in England were waiting for SLT... Behind each number is a child struggling to communicate in the classroom, a young adult trying to rebuild their life after a brain injury..." @sureenawne.bsky.social at the #InvestInSLT debate on 27 Jan 2025
On the right hand side of the picture is the official photo of Sureena Brackenridge, MP, smiling and looking at the camera and wearing a white top with a red blazer. On the left side is a quote that reads:

"In September 2024, more than 64,000 children in England were waiting for speech and language therapy. In my Wolverhampton North East constituency, children and families are facing unacceptable delays and limited access.

Behind each number is a child struggling to communicate in the classroom, a young adult trying to rebuild their life after a brain injury, or a stroke survivor who feels isolated because their voice has been taken away."

Sureena Brackenridge, MP, at the Speech and Language Therapy  debate on 27 Jan 2025
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Reposted by Gillian Rudd
Peter Just @peterdjust.bsky.social · 18/11/2025
😊 As we always say, RCSLT couldn't do our policy & influencing work without our members or people who have had speech and language therapy. So, it's great to hear from Peter Bradley at the start of our all staff day, about his experiences and work with RCSLT Northern Ireland.
A PowerPoint slide featuring Peter Bradley.
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Reposted by Gillian Rudd
Peter Just @peterdjust.bsky.social · 17/11/2025
📺 You can watch @gillianrudd.bsky.social's oral evidence to the Modernisation Committee on behalf of the #InclusiveParliament coalition on the link below. 2/2 www.parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/...
parliamentlive.tv
Parliamentlive.tv
Modernisation Committee
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Reposted by Gillian Rudd
Peter Just @peterdjust.bsky.social · 17/11/2025
🚨 #InclusiveParliament coalition update 📨 Great for RCSLT to see @gillianrudd.bsky.social's letter to the Modernisation Committee after her oral evidence has been published: committees.parliament.uk/writtenevide... 📰 There's more in STAMMA's news story: stamma.org/about-us/new... 1/
Screenshot of a letter from Gillian Rudd to the House of Commons Modernisation Committee in July 2025 highlighting how Parliament can be made more accessible to people who sign or have communication disability, difficulty, or difference.
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Gillian Rudd @gillianrudd.bsky.social · 17/11/2025
Coffee mornings for dead kids. "Hospice care isn’t just about dignity at the end of life (though that should be enough). It’s about crisis prevention, family preservation, and economic sense." A beautiful and important piece from Dan McEvoy medium.com/p/coffee-mor...
medium.com
Coffee Mornings for Dead Children: Britain’s Hospice Funding Crisis.
Elisa died on 4th January, around 10pm at Naomi House hospice. I want to focus on the moments between being told she was dying and her…
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Reposted by Gillian Rudd
Special Needs Jungle @spcialndsjungle.bsky.social · 17/11/2025
We're looking for a short-term volunteer with expertise in UK charity structures and law to help offer advice and practical support. Apply via Reach Volunteering reachvolunteering.org.uk/opp...
reachvolunteering.org.uk
Expert in UK charity structures and law | Reach Volunteering
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Reposted by Gillian Rudd
Gillian Rudd @gillianrudd.bsky.social · 08/11/2025
"Recruitment is one side of the coin, but retention is the other." During the #InvestInSLT debate on 27 Jan 2025, Dave Robertson, MP for Lichfield, recognised the issues with burnout, insufficient support and unsustainable workloads in speech and language therapy.
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Reposted by Gillian Rudd
Special Needs Jungle @spcialndsjungle.bsky.social · 15/11/2025
In 2022, SNJ carried out research into the experiences of families from ethnic and marginalised communities when asking for support for their disabled children. The results were very concerning: www.specialneedsjungle.com/c...
specialneedsjungle.com
SNJ Report: The casual bias and daily discrimination faced by disabled children and t...
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Gillian Rudd @gillianrudd.bsky.social · 16/11/2025
"How do the Government intend to alleviate pressure in this area? Do they intend to fund more places, especially at the university level? These are complex issues, and highly skilled people are needed." @saqibbhattimp.bsky.social at the #InvestInSLT Speech and Language Therapy debate on 27 Jan 2025
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Reposted by Gillian Rudd
Loren @meetdld.bsky.social · 15/11/2025
💜What does it mean if your sibling has DLD? This books explains a diagnosis & gives them words to explain it to others. 💛 Looks at skills they have as a sibling & how to look after themselves. 💜 Available via online retailers. My brother has DLD amzn.eu/d/8Hyb20V My sister has DLD amzn.eu/d/dbF0oIT
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Gillian Rudd @gillianrudd.bsky.social · 14/11/2025
Kelly Williams is now sharing her experiences of stroke and aphasia and finding support and community at @mybcu.bsky.social She praises the help she has received from @claireslt.bsky.social and #SLTatBCU students. "6 years later I realise I still have a voice". #SLTeaParty
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Gillian Rudd @gillianrudd.bsky.social · 14/11/2025
Barry Butterworth is now sharing his experiences of stroke, aphasia and accessing speech and language therapy. He talks about his role at @mybcu.bsky.social as an Expert by Experience and praises the work of @claireslt.bsky.social particularly. #SLTeaParty
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Gillian Rudd @gillianrudd.bsky.social · 14/11/2025
Presenting next at our #SLTeaParty is the fabulous Sara Uddin, #SLTatBCU student and BCUSALTSOC President. Sara's talk focuses on the importance of: - Compassion - Connection and community - Awareness - The future Follow them on Insta: www.instagram.com/saltsocatbcu...
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Gillian Rudd @gillianrudd.bsky.social · 14/11/2025
Derek Munn from RCSLT is now speaking to attendees at our @mybcu.bsky.social #SLTeaParty on four themes: - History - Equality - Birmingham - The future Derek reflects on the developments in the profession over time and how BCU fits in - we've been training SLTs for almost 60 years!
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Gillian Rudd @gillianrudd.bsky.social · 14/11/2025
The #SLTeaParty at @mybcu.bsky.social is underway! How wonderful to be celebrating 80 years of RCSLT with our staff, students and partners 🎉
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Reposted by Gillian Rudd
WAIT-UP SLT / Gillian Rudd @waitupslt.bsky.social · 13/11/2025
The first #WaitUpSLT project advisory group meetings take place next month and it's not too late to join us. If you'd like to read more about the project, the #WaitUpSLT blog is a good place to start: waitupslt.blogspot.com/2025/07/intr... Please share to help spread the word 🙏
The image shows a poster advertising the WAIT-UP SLT research project and an opportunity to join advisory group.

You can express an interest if you:
✅ are a parent/caregiver of a child or young person who has accessed children's speech and language therapy services in the last 3 years  https://app.onlinesurveys.jisc.ac.uk/s/bcu/waitupslt-pac-advisory-group
or
✅ work within a SLT service in England as a service lead, SLT, SLTA, admin/clerical assistant or other associated role and have contact with families who experience waiting https://app.onlinesurveys.jisc.ac.uk/s/bcu/waitupslt-slt-advisory-group
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Special Needs Jungle @spcialndsjungle.bsky.social · 21/10/2025
Croydon Council pause EHCP speech and language therapy 'without telling parents'. Parents, please look into judicial review proceedings to ensure your child's SLT as written into their plan is upheld. SOS!SEN and IPSEA have info about JRs. www.mylondon.news/news/south...
mylondon.news
'Croydon Council stopped SEND speech and language therapy for our kids without telling us' - My London
Croydon Council says new provision will be in place by November, but parents say poor communication has left them uncertain and losing trust
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Special Needs Jungle @spcialndsjungle.bsky.social · 02/11/2025
Recently on SNJ: How to choose a speech and language therapist for your child with SEND: A guide for parents and carer www.specialneedsjungle.com/c...
specialneedsjungle.com
How to choose a speech and language therapist for your child with SEND: A guide for parents and carer - Special Needs Jungle
Special Needs Jungle provides parent-centred information, news, special needs resources and informed opinion about SEND - Special educational needs and disability, Education, Health and Care Plans, EHCPs, EOTAS, SEND Tribunal, children's mental health, rare disease, SEND politics
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Gillian Rudd @gillianrudd.bsky.social · 11/11/2025
"Speech and language therapists are overstretched, underfunded and working in systems that fail to meet the demands of local needs." Shockat Adam @shockatadam.bsky.social at the #InvestInSLT Speech and Language Therapy debate on 27 January 2025: hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2025...
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Gillian Rudd @gillianrudd.bsky.social · 11/11/2025
"Speech and language therapists are overstretched, underfunded and working in systems that fail to meet the demands of local needs." Shockat Adam @shockatadam.bsky.social at the #InvestInSLT Speech and Language Therapy debate on 27 January 2025: hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2025...
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Nikki Botting @profnikkibotting.bsky.social · 10/11/2025
Are you the parent or carer of a child born in 2023? Please fill in our #research questionnaire on #talking and #thinking! cityunilondon.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_... It takes about 40mins and is anonymous but you can choose to be entered into a prize draw 😊 Please share! #SLPeeps
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Gillian Rudd @gillianrudd.bsky.social · 10/11/2025
"The current system is underfunded, overstretched and unprepared for the future." Sureena Brackenridge @sureenawne.bsky.social, MP, speaking at the #InvestInSLT speech and language therapy debate on 27 January 2025.
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Gillian Rudd @gillianrudd.bsky.social · 08/11/2025
"The current system is underfunded, overstretched and unprepared for the future." Sureena Brackenridge MP speaking at the #InvestInSLT speech and language therapy debate on 27 January 2025.
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Gillian Rudd @gillianrudd.bsky.social · 08/11/2025
"Recruitment is one side of the coin, but retention is the other." During the #InvestInSLT debate on 27 Jan 2025, Dave Robertson, MP for Lichfield, recognised the issues with burnout, insufficient support and unsustainable workloads in speech and language therapy.
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Amy Colleen @amycolleen.bsky.social · 06/11/2025
5yo is talking about a game he and his school friend played today. 5: AND THEN, me and AJ pretended we were ALIENS and we ATTACKED THE SLIDE with ALIEN SLIME! Me: Wow, sounds like you and AJ are two silly geese. 5: Now, Mom. You know we are not. Fink about it. Do we fly south for the winter? 🙄
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Claire Cullingworth @ccullingworth.bsky.social · 07/11/2025
Overheard, said by a mother to a small child as they came out of nursery together: "Oh no! There is MORE lava! We'll have to do a Really Big Jump!" #TinyJoys
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Caroline Bowen, Speech-Language Pathologist 🇦🇺🇳🇿🌻 @carolinebowen.bsky.social · 01/11/2025
Hello 🦋 #bskySPEECHIES, SLT advocates, parents of children & young people with #SLCN & other dedicated #childSPEECHdis #devLANGdis 💃🕺movers & shakers. The #INVESTinSLT push has important implications internationally. Please amplify📣 this message 🇬🇧 #budget2025🇬🇧 #budget25🇬🇧 @ukparliament.parliament.uk
RCSLT letterhead


Statement on the need to Invest in SLT - 27 October 2025

This statement is issued on behalf of Mikey Akers, Louisa Akers, Francesca Beard, Samantha Berry, Dave Harford, Georgia Leckie, Karen Massey, Sharon Oliphant,Gillian Rudd, Pam Slater, and the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists.*

Nine months ago today (27 October) the House of Commons debated the Invest in SLT petition. We were delighted that our briefing for the debate was supported by over 40 organisations and by the very powerful contributions from MPs of all parties calling on the Government to increase investment in services and better plan for the speech and language therapy workforce.

We were also encouraged by the Government’s response and by the pledge the Government made to the Invest in SLT team in March that they would work with us on an action plan to tackle the issues affecting access to speech and language therapy.

We regret that seven months on that action plan has not yet appeared. So, today, and with the Budget on 26 November in sight, we are calling on the Government to do two things:

1) Ensure that the forthcoming Budget provides sufficient resources to the Department of Health and Social Care, the Department for Education, and other relevant Government Departments, so they can increase investment in speech and language therapy.

2) Publish the speech and language therapy action plan which they discussed with us in March. 

People of all ages with communication disability, difficulty, or difference, and those with eating, drinking, and swallowing difficulties, and their families and carers have already waited too long for the barriers to accessing speech and language therapy to be removed. They should not have to wait any longer.

Working with you, we will do all we can to make things better for people with communication and/or swallowing needs. But we need the Government to act – and to act now. Those we work with and represent deserve no less.
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Peter Just @peterdjust.bsky.social · 31/10/2025
📢 RCSLT highlighted the need to #InvestInSLT in our submission to The Treasury's Autumn Budget 2025/Spending Review consultation and referenced @mikeys-wish.bsky.social's petition. ▶️ Read our submission in full: rcslt.org/wp-content/u...
Screenshot of RCSLT submission to the Autumn Budget 2025/Spending Review consultation.Screenshot of RCSLT submission to the Autumn Budget 2025/Spending Review consultation.Screenshot of RCSLT submission to the Autumn Budget 2025/Spending Review consultation.
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Peter Just @peterdjust.bsky.social · 01/11/2025
🚨 9 months since the #InvestInSLT petition was debated in Parliament, we are calling on the UK Government to: 1️⃣ Use the Budget to ensure sufficient resources for services 2️⃣ Bring forward its SLT Action Plan ➡️ Read our statement in full: www.rcslt.org/wp-content/u... #Budget25 #Budget2025 #SLT
Statement from the Invest In SLT home team dated 27 October 2025 marking nine months since Mikey Akers' petition was debated in the House of Commons.
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Mikey’s Wish Foundation @mikeys-wish.bsky.social · 27/10/2025
Mikey's MP @saqibbhattimp.bsky.social has written to @skinnock.bsky.social asking for an update on the action plan that was promised to the #InvestinSLT team for improving speech and language services @peterdjust.bsky.social @gillianrudd.bsky.social @bammo44.bsky.social @dharford79.bsky.social
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Gillian Rudd @gillianrudd.bsky.social · 23/10/2025
Calling all speech and language therapy colleagues and partners! Come join our #SLTeaParty at @mybcu.bsky.social on 14th November marking 80 years of RCSLT ⤵️ www.bcu.ac.uk/news-events/...
bcu.ac.uk
SLTea Party: Celebrating 80 Years
Join us on Friday 14 November, 1–3.30pm for ‘SLTea Party: Celebrating 80 Years’, a free event at our City South Campus.
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