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WAIT-UP SLT / Gillian Rudd

@waitupslt.bsky.social
52 followers 105 following 38 posts

WAIT-UP SLT is a research project exploring perspectives and experiences of waiting in children's speech and language therapy in England. Tweets by @gillianrudd.bsky.social

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WAIT-UP SLT / Gillian Rudd @waitupslt.bsky.social · 26/07/2026
Analysis of new NHS waiting list data reveal inequalities in waiting times for people of different ethnicities, deprivation levels and parts of the country. From @news.sky.com news.sky.com/story/patien...
news.sky.com
Patients in deprived areas wait longer for NHS treatment, new figures reveal
Analysis of new NHS waiting list data reveal inequalities in waiting times for people of different ethnicities, deprivation levels and parts of the country.
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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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WAIT-UP SLT / Gillian Rudd @waitupslt.bsky.social · 09/07/2026
The latest data from NHS England shows that 66,303 children and young people were waiting for a first Speech and Language Therapy appointment in England in May 2026. Children and families deserve timely access to the Speech and Language Therapy services they need.
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WAIT-UP SLT / Gillian Rudd @waitupslt.bsky.social · 01/07/2026
Delighted to be at the beautiful Birmingham Botanical Gardens this morning to spread the word about WAIT-UP SLT, as well as learn about the range of projects being carried out by Nursing and Midwifery colleagues at @mybcu.bsky.social (including my brilliant supervisor Kerry Gaskin)
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Special Needs Jungle @spcialndsjungle.bsky.social · 15/06/2026
NEW POST: SEND reforms and the forgotten children at risk of exclusion. Justina Asafu-Adjaye, says any honest assessment of SEND reform must begin with the system as it exists now, not the one being imagined in policy language. www.specialneedsjungle.com/send-reforms...
a blue colourised image of a child with her head on the desk
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Peter Just @peterdjust.bsky.social · 15/06/2026
😊 Also fantastic to see two speech and language therapists who have supported the RCSLT's policy and influencing work over many years receiving honours in The King's Birthday Honours. 🏅 Elaine Kelman MBE 🏅 Janet Cooper BEM 🎉 Congrats to them! 🧵 2/ www.gov.uk/government/p...
gov.uk
The King's Birthday Honours List 2026
The King's Birthday Honours mark the extraordinary contributions and service of people across the UK.
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Peter Just @peterdjust.bsky.social · 15/06/2026
😊 Fantastic to see that Mikey was awarded an MBE in The King's Birthday Honours. 🎉Huge congratulations from all of us at the RCSLT, Mikey. 🙏🏻🙏🏾🙏🏿 Thanks for all you do, including in support of our policy and influencing work. 🧵 1/
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WAIT-UP SLT / Gillian Rudd @waitupslt.bsky.social · 12/06/2026
Have you experienced waiting for children's speech and language therapy services in England in the last 4 years? Parents and caregivers are invited to complete a short anonymous survey: app.onlinesurveys.jisc.ac.uk/s/bcu/waitup...
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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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WAIT-UP SLT / Gillian Rudd @waitupslt.bsky.social · 05/06/2026
Despite national efforts to reduce waiting times, many children and families continue to wait for speech and language therapy support. This latest infographic explores the scale of waiting for children's speech and language therapy in England.
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WAIT-UP SLT / Gillian Rudd @waitupslt.bsky.social · 02/06/2026
Change is coming for NHS community health services in England. 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
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WAIT-UP SLT / Gillian Rudd @waitupslt.bsky.social · 29/05/2026
📢 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 🔗 waitupslt.blogspot.com/2026/05/what...
waitupslt.blogspot.com
What does the NHS Medium Term planning framework mean for community services - and for SLT?
Introduction In March 2026, NHS England published new guidance on waiting times for community health services ( https://www.england.nhs.uk/p...
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WAIT-UP SLT / Gillian Rudd @waitupslt.bsky.social · 17/05/2026
Children's speech and language therapy waiting lists in England 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
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WAIT-UP SLT / Gillian Rudd @waitupslt.bsky.social · 17/05/2026
Children's speech and language therapy waiting lists in England 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
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Special Needs Jungle @spcialndsjungle.bsky.social · 17/05/2026
Time is running out. The #SEND consultation closes at 11.59pm tomorrow (Monday 18th). Please take the time to respond if you can. The more of us who respond, the harder we are to ignore. #SaveSENDLegalRights #NotInOurName #StrongerTogether www.facebook.com/share/v/1CxC...
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Peter Just @peterdjust.bsky.social · 11/02/2026
📰 RCSLT responds to the UK Govt's plan to make schools more inclusive by design. ✅ We welcome the ambition. ❌ Physical spaces alone are not enough. 🚨 Schools need access to more speech and language therapists, working across the whole school. 🔽 See our full response below.
Quote from Derek Munn, Director of Policy and Public Affairs, RCSLT.

“We welcome the UK Government’s ambition to make schools more inclusive by design, and inclusion bases in secondary schools can play an important role. However, physical spaces alone are not enough. Schools need access to more speech and language therapists – working not only within inclusion bases, but across the whole school.
 
“To make this a reality, the Government’s workforce plan must ensure there are enough speech and language therapists, with the skills and experience to support inclusive practice in schools. This must be matched with sustainable funding so services can provide early intervention, provide preventative support, and address the workload pressures which are having such a negative impact on staff wellbeing and retention.
 
“We urge the Government to address these critical issues in the forthcoming Schools White Paper.”
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WAIT-UP SLT / Gillian Rudd @waitupslt.bsky.social · 30/01/2026
"Children across the country are waiting far too long for the community care they desperately need. For the families affected, it can feel like life is on hold while they're stuck waiting for support." Read the article: mag.nationalhealthexecutive.com/issue-106-q4/p…
mag.nationalhealthexecutive.com
National Health Executive • Issue 106 Q4
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WAIT-UP SLT / Gillian Rudd @waitupslt.bsky.social · 29/01/2026
New blog post: Meet the WAIT-UP SLT team: Doctoral Supervisors waitupslt.blogspot.com/2026/01/meet...
waitupslt.blogspot.com
Meet the WAIT-UP SLT team: Doctoral Supervisors
An essential dimension of doctoral study is the involvement and input of supervisors. This blog post discusses the nature and purpose of doc...
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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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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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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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WAIT-UP SLT / Gillian Rudd @waitupslt.bsky.social · 26/12/2025
"If we want to fix admin, we need to ask admin staff as well as patients what the solutions might be." From Julia Cream at The Kings Fund www.kingsfund.org.uk/insight-and-...
kingsfund.org.uk
Who Picks Up The Phone? Different Approaches To NHS Admin | The King's Fund
Improving NHS admin isn’t easy – but some solutions are surprisingly simple. Julia Cream looks at two real life examples of admin done differently.
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WAIT-UP SLT / Gillian Rudd @waitupslt.bsky.social · 23/12/2025
As I close down for the holiday period, I just want to say a huge thank you to everyone who has engaged with #WaitUpSLT since we launched in the Summer. I'm really grateful to everyone who has supported the project so far and look forward to seeing how it develops in 2026!
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Speech and Language UK @speechandlanguk.bsky.social · 12/12/2025
Will you help shape the future of the SEND system? The Government wants to hear from parents, specialists and educators like you to help fix the SEND crisis. Together, we can press SEND on a future where every voice is heard. Fill out the survey today: bit.ly/4plnZt7
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Peter Just @peterdjust.bsky.social · 05/12/2025
💥 BREAKING NEWS: RCSLT responds to 'Our Children, Our Future: Tackling Child Poverty'. ✅ We welcome the Child Poverty Strategy. 🚨 As the Govt implements it, it is essential that services and support are accessible. ➡️ See our response in full: www.rcslt.org/wp-content/u...
RCSLT statement on the UK Government Child Poverty Strategy.
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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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WAIT-UP SLT / Gillian Rudd @waitupslt.bsky.social · 01/12/2025
This morning we hit 2,000 views on the #WaitUpSLT blog! Many thanks as always for the interest and engagement and if you haven't already seen it, you can find it here: waitupslt.blogspot.com?m=1
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WAIT-UP SLT / Gillian Rudd @waitupslt.bsky.social · 30/11/2025
Tomorrow we'll be hosting the first meeting of our parent and caregivers' advisory group. Here's a reminder of how expert voices will shape #WaitUpSLT #research ⤵️ waitupslt.blogspot.com/2025/07/phas...
waitupslt.blogspot.com
How expert voices will shape WAIT-UP SLT: A look at our advisory groups
Research should be designed and carried out in partnership with the communities that it seeks to represent.  WAIT-UP SLT therefore adopts a ...
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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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WAIT-UP SLT / Gillian Rudd @waitupslt.bsky.social · 26/11/2025
ICYMI: Introducing Waiting and Access in Therapy - Understanding Perspectives in Speech and Language Therapy (WAIT-UP SLT) - Blog post #WaitUpSLT #Research waitupslt.blogspot.com/2025/07/intr...
waitupslt.blogspot.com
Introducing WAIT-UP SLT
Waiting and Access In Therapy - Understanding Perspectives in Speech and Language Therapy (WAIT-UP SLT) is a multi-stage research project th...
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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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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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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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WAIT-UP SLT / Gillian Rudd @waitupslt.bsky.social · 20/11/2025
"Many people, especially those from disadvantaged communities, live in areas where services are scarce and where waiting times are long. That can exacerbate some of the issues faced by those communities, as well as the individuals affected." Dave Robertson at the #InvestInSLT debate on 27/01/25
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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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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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WAIT-UP SLT / Gillian Rudd @waitupslt.bsky.social · 17/11/2025
"We need increased investment to reduce waiting times and to ensure that every child, no matter their background, gets the support they need." @shockatadam.bsky.social at the #InvestInSLT Speech and Language Therapy debate on 27 January 2025
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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 · 14/11/2025
NEW GIVEAWAY: We have THREE copies of this important book to give away. @catrionamoore.bsky.social reviews Understanding Parent Blame: Institutional failure and complex trauma by Prof. Luke Clements and Dr Ana Laura Aiello www.specialneedsjungle.com/u...
image shows the book cover that's an abstract shape of a sad person
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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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WAIT-UP SLT / Gillian Rudd @waitupslt.bsky.social · 13/11/2025
New #WaitUpSLT blog article: What To Do Whilst You're Waiting for Speech and Language Therapy for Your Child waitupslt.blogspot.com/2025/11/what...
waitupslt.blogspot.com
What To Do Whilst You're Waiting for Speech and Language Therapy for Your Child
If your child has been referred for speech and language therapy, you might be feeling a mix of relief, hope, and maybe some frustration. Wai...
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WAIT-UP SLT / Gillian Rudd @waitupslt.bsky.social · 12/11/2025
Children and families accessing speech and language therapy don't just experience waiting for first appointments - many experience further waits for therapy and support as described in this @itsmylondon.bsky.social article ⤵️. www.mylondon.news/news/south-l...
mylondon.news
Expert warns of impact to children's development following Croydon therapy saga
The council said new speech and language services are now in place, but parents fear the delay has already set their children back.
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WAIT-UP SLT / Gillian Rudd @waitupslt.bsky.social · 09/11/2025
Thank you everyone who has visited the #WaitUpSLT blog since it launched in the Summer. This week we passed 1,500 views! waitupslt.blogspot.com?m=1
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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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WAIT-UP SLT / Gillian Rudd @waitupslt.bsky.social · 10/10/2025
Mark Dickinson @nasuwt-official.bsky.social "highlighted the consequences of cuts to children’s services, including the lack of early intervention, long waiting lists for speech and language therapy...These services are not luxuries. They are the safety net that allows every child to thrive.”
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Special Needs Jungle @spcialndsjungle.bsky.social · 26/09/2025
NEW POST: Speech, language and communication needs (SLCN) are the most common issues experienced by children. Today’s article, from Gillian Rudd at @mybcu.bsky.social offers a guide for choosing a speech and language therapist for your child with #SEND www.specialneedsjungle.com/c... #SENDsky
image shows a speech therapist touching her chin to demonstrate a technique to a child colourised in pink
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Peter Just @peterdjust.bsky.social · 25/09/2025
😍 Am so proud of the #InvestInSLT home-team for being shortlisted for 'Best Lobbying Campaign' at today's Memcom Excellence Awards. ❤️ Thanks to everyone who made it possible. ➡️ You can read more about why we've been shortlisted here: www.memcom.org.uk/blog/success...
memcom.org.uk
Best Lobbying Campaign
Recognising influential campaigns that effectively shaped public policy, legislation, or professional practice.
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Peter Just @peterdjust.bsky.social · 24/09/2025
🚨 Check out this update on the #InvestInSLT campaign and the non-update (😔) on the SLT Action Plan. #WaitUpSLT waitupslt.blogspot.com/2025/09/miss...
waitupslt.blogspot.com
Where is the Government action plan for Speech and Language Therapy services?
Earlier this year, the UK government committed to developing an action plan to address long ‐ standing concerns about the availability of ...
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WAIT-UP SLT / Gillian Rudd @waitupslt.bsky.social · 24/09/2025
New blog post: Where is the UK Government action plan for speech and language therapy services? waitupslt.blogspot.com/2025/09/miss...
waitupslt.blogspot.com
Where is the Government action plan for Speech and Language Therapy services?
Earlier this year, the UK government committed to developing an action plan to address long ‐ standing concerns about the availability of ...
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WAIT-UP SLT / Gillian Rudd @waitupslt.bsky.social · 22/08/2025
Opportunity to join research advisory groups! WAIT-UP SLT is seeking expressions of interest from: 👥 parents and caregivers: app.onlinesurveys.jisc.ac.uk/s/bcu/waitup... 👥 individuals working within speech and language therapy services: app.onlinesurveys.jisc.ac.uk/s/bcu/waitup... Please share 🙏
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