Appointments

How to get an appointment

Inpatients

You can ask a member of staff to refer you. We aim to see you within 1 working day of your referral.

Outpatients

You can ask your GP to refer you.

Changing or cancelling your appointment

Call or text 020 7188 6233.

Please let us know at least 24 hours before your appointment if you need to reschedule.

If you do not attend without telling us more than once, we may discharge you back to your GP.

Before your appointment

We'll let you know if there is anything else you need to bring before your appointment. 

We are a teaching hospital and students might be involved in your care. Please let us know if you're not comfortable with this. It will not affect your care.

During your appointment

Your appointment can be:

• face-to-face
• by video call
• by phone

Your first appointment will usually last 30 minutes to 1 hour and you’ll see a speech and language therapist.

If you're having a face to face appointment, please arrive 5 minutes early, as you might need to complete some questionnaires. You might be seen on your own or in a small group of patients with the same condition.

We'll let you know you if you'll be seen in a small group. Please let us know if you do not want to be seen with other patients.

The appointment will not involve an endoscopy but may involve a short recording of your voice and some therapeutic massage around the neck area.

Depending on your symptoms, you may be offered:

• advice on how to care for your voice and another appointment to come back for therapy to learn more about your voice and how it works
• an appointment with the speech therapist a few weeks after your first appointment
• a review in the combined specialist voice clinic

We are a teaching hospital and students might be involved in your care. Please let us know if you're not comfortable with this. It will not affect your care.

Communication and swallowing appointments

At your first communication and swallowing appointment, the therapist will discuss the difficulties you are experiencing and explain how speech and language therapy might help you. 

The appointment will be for about 45 minutes.

You may need to have more than one appointment to complete the assessment. 

Voice therapy group sessions

At a voice therapy group session you’ll learn strategies and exercises to help improve your voice difficulties. There will be opportunities to ask questions and speak to a therapist about your symptoms. At the end of the course you’ll have identified some personal goals to work on. 

The group session is the first step of treatment. You’ll be seen one-to-one after the session if you need it.

We'll give you leaflets and instructions for your treatment. We’ll also give you a name and phone number to contact if you have any questions or problems.

After your appointment

We'll update your GP after your appointment or course of treatment. A copy of this letter will be sent to you.