Adult services

Inpatient

We see inpatients on the wards for a speech and language therapy assessment.  We give you a diagnosis of your communication and/or swallowing difficulties.  Advice and a management plan is then provided.  This assessment sometimes involves other members of the multi-disciplinary team, including nurses, doctors, physiotherapists etc.

Outpatients

We see patients in outpatient clinics for swallowing and voice therapy.  We offer face to face or online outpatient clinic appointments.

Videofluoroscopy

This is a detailed assessment of swallowing using x-rays. We give you food/drink mixed with a radio-opaque dye which shows up on the x-rays. This assessment allows the speech and language therapist to try different types of food or different techniques to help you swallow more easily or safely. This can be arranged during an inpatient stay or as an outpatient.

Fibreoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES)

This involves the passing of a nasendoscope (small flexible camera on a tube) through one nostril to position at the back of the mouth.

The speech and language therapist has a clear view of the throat and allows a direct assessment of the muscles and structures involved in swallowing as you eat and drinks. This can be undertaken during an inpatient stay or as an outpatient. This procedure may be recorded and help guide decisions about eating  and drinking safely.

Where we are

Royal Sussex County Hospital

Services at the Royal Sussex County Hospital includes inpatients and outpatients. Specialist clinics include head and neck oncology, outpatient voice, videofluoroscopy and FEES clinics.

Princess Royal Hospital

At the Princess Royal Hospital we offer inpatients and outpatients, including the Sussex Rehabilitation Centre (SRC). Specialist clinics include outpatient voice, outpatient neurology and videofluoroscopy.