Reviewed on : 26 Jun 2026

Reviewed by : GP Gateway Editor

Expires : 26 Jun 2028

About the SALT Service

We help adults with a communication and/or swallowing difficulty.

These difficulties are often the result of a stroke, brain injury, a progressive neurological condition such as Parkinsons, Dementia or as a result of treatment for cancer. We also see people who experience voice changes or stammer

Difficulty swallowing (dysphagia) can lead to choking, aspiration pneumonia or malnutrition

A breakdown in communication can lead to social isolation, relationship breakdown or difficulty at, or returning to work

Our therapists have specialists in assessing, diagnosing and treating difficulties in all of these areas

We also provide specialist investigations and treatments such as:

• Lee Silverman Voice Treatment (Parkinsons Disease)
• Fibreoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing
• Augmentative Alternative Communication (communication aids)
• Videofluoroscopy (in conjunction with the Radiology department)
• Mental Capacity assessments

Patients are seen in hospital, clinics, at home or in nursing/residential homes

Referral Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients must be registered with a Warwickshire GP.
• Adults aged 18 or over with acquired communication and/or swallowing difficulties (see online referral form).
• Re-referrals for patients previously known to the SALT team where swallowing or communication difficulties have deteriorated or swallowing appears to have improved.
• Rapid Response service available for urgent cases (e.g. end of life/palliative/admission avoidance). If referrals are marked as ‘urgent’ SALT will triage to determine clinical need for this.
• Patients who are experiencing voice difficulties and who have been assessed by the Ears, Nose and Throat Team (ENT) within the last 6 months.
• Transgender and gender diverse referrals for patients who have been assessed and are under the care of a Gender Identity Clinic (GIC). The service provided will be as part of a general voice caseload. If specialist SALT input is required, this will need to be accessed via discussion with the GIC and your GP.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Difficulties chewing food due to poor dentition or ill-fitting dentures only – consider referral to dentist/specialist dentist
• Difficulties swallowing medications or tablets only  – speak to General Practitioner (GP) for possible medication review/available liquid alternatives
• Referrals for vomiting/retching/regurgitation/suspected globus/ reflux only – speak to GP for medical management and/or appropriateness of gastroenterology or ENT referral
• Referrals for weight loss/lack of appetite where there are no identified swallow difficulties  – GP review/referral to dieticians
• Referrals for Adults with learning disabilities (ALD) – refer to the ALD SALT team by calling 0300 131 2320
• Referrals for adults with communication or swallowing difficulties linked directly to an Autism diagnosis such as sensory difficulties or selective mutism – covwarkpt.nhs.uk/adult-learning-disabilityand-autism-services
• Re-referrals where swallow presentation is stable and unchanged – See previous SALT input on EMIS
• Stroke patients originally seen by the Warwickshire Integrated Community Stroke Service (WICSS) who are re-referred with ongoing/new communication and/or swallow needs to be discussed between community SALT team and WICSS
• Isolated choking episodes where there are no previous or ongoing concerns about the swallowing – Verbal advice may be given on a case by case basis
• Referrals for patients who have capacity and are choosing not to follow SALT recommendations

If you are unsure about whether a referral to the SALT team is appropriate, please contact us on the numbers below to discuss further.

Community South – 01926 317727 or 01926 495321 ext 3624

Community North – 02476 865285

Community Rugby – 01788 555130

Referrals

Direct referral into the Speech and language therapy service is open to everyone, although patients with voice problems need to be seen by an ENT consultant first

SALT has an OPEN REFERRAL SYSTEM :

For Telephone referrals, please select the relevant area telephone number below and have the following information available:

• Patient name, NHS number and date of birth
• Reason for referral
• Your name and contact details

Rugby
Telephone: +44 (0)1788 555130

North Warwickshire
Telephone: +44 (0)2476 865285

South Warwickshire
Telephone: +44 (0)1926 317727

Nursing homes can email swft.adultsalt@nhs.net

FOR LEARNING DISABILITY REFERRALS please contact the following number – this is a separate service via Cov Warks Partnership NHS trust  : 0300 131 2320

REFERRALS FOR SPECIFIC VOICE DIFFICULTIES MUST HAVE BEEN SEEN BY ENT as per RCSLT guidelines

SLT DO NOT ACCEPT REFERRALS FOR: isolated choking episodes, difficulty swallowing medications only, reflux or oesophageal difficulties, weight loss with no swallow/dysphagia concerns.