Speech and Language: report highlights huge increase in number of children waiting for assessment in Northern Ireland

The number of pre-school children in Northern Ireland with communication issues, many of them complex, is rising, a shock new report revealed today (Wednesday).

It comes as research by the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists shows an 85% increase in children waiting for speech and language therapy appointments.

That equates to 4,527 children on a waiting list - compared to 2,444 in 2021.

Now, the college is urging Health Minister Robin Swann to provide funding for more speech therapists to tackle what they brand an "early years communication crisis."

"Unsupported speech, language and communication issues in the early years have a lifelong impact on children, affecting their ability to learn, to form friendships, to remain in education, and their potential to find employment," the report said.

Other findings from the research revealed:

• a rise in the number of children coming into pre-school and Primary One with more complex speech and language needs, requiring longer and more intensive support from speech therapists.

• a huge workforce shortage, with one in five NHS speech and language therapy posts in Northern Ireland unfilled, and almost a third of posts vacant in some services

Ruth Sedgewick, Head of the RCSLT NI said: “Speech and language therapy is not a luxury – it’s about our fundamental ability to communicate.

“There are more children in Northern Ireland waiting for speech and language therapy per head of the population than in any other region of the UK.

“Families are facing long, frustrating waits for speech therapy at this crucial stage of their children’s development. They have every right to be concerned.

“Speech and language therapists are doing their level best to support the increasing number of children being referred to them, but they are stretched far beyond capacity.”

The college wants Mr Swann to increase the number of speech and language university places (currently 28) and introduce alternative routes into the profession to meet this escalating need for speech and language therapy services, so children get the vital support they need early on in life.

Ms Sedgewick added: “The bottom line is we need more speech and language therapists, and we need them soon. The Minister has said he will commit to increasing the number of speech and language therapy undergraduate places to 40, but this would only be a start and it will take three years before students complete their degree.

“We urge the Department of Health to work much more closely with the Department of Education to improve access to speech, language and communication support for every single child who needs it now.

“This is an issue with far-reaching impacts for every part of Northern Ireland’s economic and community life. Without more speech and language therapists and better workforce planning, this situation is not going to get any better.

“In these important early years, little ones can’t afford to wait six months for an initial speech and language therapy assessment, only to wait for many more months to begin therapy. It’s not good enough and families deserve more.”

Meanwhile, A Department of Health spokesperson said the minister remains committed to implementing the recommendations of the Speech and Language Therapy Workforce Review 2019 to 2029.

In a statement, the department said: "This will require increasing the number of undergraduate Speech and Language therapy training places commissioned by the Department each year by 12, to reach the recommendation of 40 places.

"Any proposed increases will have to be considered in the context of the very challenging financial situation facing the department and the many competing priorities."