We look after people who have difficulty with communicating and swallowing.
About this service
We assess, diagnose and treat people in hospital with communication and swallowing difficulties. This includes babies with feeding difficulties.
Who we care for
We care for people admitted to North Canberra Hospital.
We also have a Speech Pathology Service for people under the care of a doctor at Canberra Hospital.
How to access this service
Your hospital care team will arrange for you to access this service.
What to expect
Our speech pathologists will join your care team if you are experiencing difficulties drinking, eating, swallowing, protecting your lungs from food and drink ‘going the wrong way,’ or if your baby is experiencing sucking difficulties.
You may also see a speech pathologist if you have changes in your ability to talk, understand, read, write or speak clearly. You may experience difficulties as a result of being very unwell or after damage and changes to the brain or structures of the head and neck. This could occur following a stroke, head injury, dementia or diseases such as Parkinson’s or motor neuron disease. Your baby might have feeding difficulties if they were premature or born with a cleft lip or palate.
The Speech Pathology team will be an integrated element of your overall treatment program, and will also involve your family members throughout your treatment process. Interpreter services are available on request.
We are open Monday to Friday, 8.30am – 5pm. You can call us on (02) 6201 6175.
What to bring to your appointment
- Medicare card
- Any letters or correspondence from your GP
- Medicines you need to take while you are here
- List of medicines you are currently taking (or the boxes), including medicines you have brought without a prescription, such as herbal supplements and vitamins
- Previous x-ray films, scans, ultrasounds or any other test results or reports
Where we’re located
We are based at North Canberra Hospital (formerly Calvary Public Hospital Bruce), Level 2, Lewisham Building.
