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What we do
We treat and manage people with:
- Brain injuries such as stroke or head injury
- Deteriorating diseases such as Motor Neurone disease, Parkinson’s Disease, or dementia
- Cancer or trauma affecting the head and neck
- Breathing problems
- Delays in speech and language development
- Prematurity and/or issues impacting early feeding
Who we care for
- Inpatients at Bendigo Hospital
- Pre-school children who are eligible for our community outpatients speech pathology program
- Children referred to the Victorian Peadiatric Rehabilitation Service (VPRS) and the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS)
- Adults accessing residential care, transitional care, outpatient neurological rehabilitation and community rehabilitation services
- Adults and children with swallowing difficulties who are eligible for the swallowing disorders clinic
Our services include
We have speech pathologists working with adults and children across many Bendigo Health programs. Each of our programs offers a variety of specialised services which can respond to your specific needs.
- Speech and language assessment and therapy
- Cognitive assessment and therapy
- Assessment and therapy for swallowing difficulties
- Laryngectomy care and management
- Videofluoroscopic assessment of swallowing (x-ray of swallowing) for adults
- Individualised and group intervention
- Assistance with obtaining and using alternative communication devices
- Education and counselling for clients, their family and carers
- Referrals to external agencies
How to access this service
We accept referrals for inpatients from health professionals within Bendigo health. Patients can request a speech pathology referral through their treating team.
We accept referrals to community and outpatient speech pathology programs from health professionals.
What to bring
- Medicare card
- Healthcare card/concession card
- Relevant reports from other health professionals
- Anything you need that supports you to communicate, for example glasses, hearing aids, electronic devices, communication book
- Equipment you may be using at home to help you communicate or eat and drink, for example modified cups/bottles
- Any special items listed on your appointment letter.
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- Home
- Our Services
- Speech pathology
How to refer your patient
Inpatients
We accept internal referrals for inpatients via the electronic Patient Record (ePR).
Videofluoroscopies for patients admitted to other hospitals will be triaged by inpatient speech pathologists by calling the switchboard on 5454 6000. Referrals for an inpatient videofluoroscopy from an external organisation will require:
- Verbal clinical handover from the treating Speech Pathologist
- A written report outlining the client’s medical history and goals for a videofluoroscopy along with
- A valid radiology request from a doctor
You can speak to a speech pathologist (Mon-Fri) by calling through the Bendigo Health switchboard on 5454 6000.
Outpatients
Internal referrals (from other departments within Bendigo Health) can be sent via ePR or through the Bendigo Health Referral Centre.
All external referrals for community and outpatient speech pathology must be sent to the Bendigo Health Referral Centre.
Adult services:
- Specialist Outpatient Clinic: adults (aged 16+) presenting with dysphagia, voice or upper respiratory conditions, or requiring outpatient Videofluoroscopy / Flexible Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing.
- Outpatient Rehabilitation Services
- Community Allied Health Services
Paediatric services: Speech Pathology paediatric referral form
- Community Health Outpatients (CHOP): pre-school aged children with impairment/delays in speech, language, voice, stuttering, fussy eating, or sensory-based feeding difficulties. Primary school-aged children or children who are eligible for ECEI / NDIS are not eligible to receive services through CHOP.
- Specialist Feeding Clinic: Children <16 presenting with feeding difficulties and associated enteral feeding, choking, poor weight gain, and/or complex medical needs.
Allied Health Specialist Clinics for ear health, vestibular, swallowing and upper airway conditions
GPs can refer patients to any of the following services via the Bendigo Health Referral Centre (BPAC or fax):
- Audiology - ear health
- Speech pathology – swallow/airway (refer for dysphagia, chronic cough, globus sensation, voice changes/dysphonia, vocal cord dysfunction)
