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The demand for speech therapists is on the rise, yet there is a lack of professionals to meet this growing need. Ceri Maher, a stroke survivor from Cardiff, found herself struggling with speech after her stroke. The Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT) has reported a more than 30% increase in demand for services among children, adults, and individuals with disabilities. The Welsh government has acknowledged the situation and mentioned that more training is being provided to address the issue and reduce waiting times.
It has been 18 months since Mrs Maher’s stroke, and she is now back home in Cardiff working towards her recovery. Speech and language therapists played a crucial role in helping her regain her communication skills. Alongside individuals like Mrs Maher, the RCSLT emphasized the importance of focusing on those in the youth justice system. Demand for speech therapy services has surged since 2019, with a 31% increase for children and young people, 37% for adults, and 43% for individuals with learning disabilities.
Despite the increasing demand for speech therapists, there are limited training opportunities in Wales, with universities in Wrexham and Cardiff being the primary options. The insufficient number of graduates entering the field has created a gap in meeting the current demand. Lauren Salisbury, a senior lecturer at Wrexham University, highlighted the need for additional postgraduate and study-while-you-earn options to attract a diverse range of students to the profession. Philippa Cotterill emphasized the necessity of sustained funding for speech and language therapy services to ensure long-term sustainability and effectiveness.
While the Welsh government is committed to reducing waiting times and strengthening the workforce in this field, challenges remain in meeting the high demand for speech therapists. Despite improvements in reducing waiting times, more efforts are needed to address the increasing need for speech therapy services. Training places for speech and language therapists in Wales have seen a modest increase of 12.2% over the last three years, indicating a step in the right direction but highlighting the ongoing need for more professionals in this vital field
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