New funding at Scunthorpe and Grimsby hospitals will help patients struggling to swallow
They could be assessed without even leaving the ward
Patients with swallowing difficulties can be diagnosed, with treatment started quicker, thanks to 95-thousand pounds of new equipment at Scunthorpe and Grimsby hospitals.
It means people can be assessed without even leaving the ward.
Staff are currently being trained on how to use it, it'll be rolled out later this year.
The Fibreoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES) equipment is portable so will save patients who need an instrumental assessment a trip to X-ray.
Sarah Scrace, Operational Lead for SLT, said: “For those patients who need it, this equipment will give us a better understanding of the cause of their swallowing difficulties and how we can treat it. With it being portable, it will allow us to carry out assessments more quickly, meaning we can provide patients and the staff looking after them with information on how best to manage their difficulties, including rehabilitation options, sooner.
We expect to see improved outcomes for patients in terms of their rehabilitation.”
Swallowing difficulties can be caused by a wide range of conditions including neurological conditions like stroke or Parkinson’s Disease, cancer or as a result of surgery. Treatment varies and can include therapy to improve swallowing, changes to food and drink consistencies or feeding tubes if needed.
The use of FEES equipment is now recommended by The Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists and will reduce pressure on our videofluoroscopy service.