VerbatimParliament, as it happens

Speech and Language Therapy: Health Professions

Asked by Abtisam MohamedLabourDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled Answered 24 February 2025UIN 30391

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to reduce speech and language therapy workforce shortages.

Answered by Karin Smyth

We want to remove the barriers to training as a speech and language therapist (SLT), which is why eligible SLT students can get a non-repayable grant of £5,000 a year through the NHS Learning Support Fund. Further financial support is also available for childcare, dual accommodation costs, and travel. This is in addition to the student support package available from Student Finance England, which includes loans for tuition fees and living costs.

We will also publish a refreshed Long Term Workforce Plan which will deliver the transformed health service we will build over the next decade to ensure that the National Health Service has the right people, including those who work in speech and language therapy, in the right places, with the right skills to deliver the care patients need when they need it.

Verbatim has judged this answer against the question that was actually asked — answered, partly answered, or evaded. Sign in to see the verdict →

Open this question in Verbatim →

Every written question, searchable

155,000 questions tabled since the election, with the answer each department gave — and the ones still unanswered, with the clock running. Free to search.

Search written questions →Read on Verbatim