Speech and Language Therapy helping premature babies

More than 660 premature babies have been supported by Speech and Language Therapists (SLTs) in Wolverhampton, enabling them to go home earlier.

RWT’s Neonatal SLT Team – Alex (left) and Rachel

Babies born early, at full term and/or with medical concerns are at risk of feeding and communication difficulties.

Since The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust’s Neonatal SLT Team was established in March 2022 at New Cross Hospital, it has supported families to help their babies move from tube feeding to feeding by mouth, alongside advising on early communication.

The SLT team comprises Rachel Evans, Advanced Practitioner Neonatal SLT, and Alex Davis, Highly Specialist Neonatal SLT.

Before March 2022, infants were seen ad-hoc by the Community SLT Team or followed up on discharge home.

The team is on the Neonatal Unit five days a week and:

• Works with families and the wider Neonatal team to identify babies at risk of feeding and/or communication difficulties
• Supports families in their baby’s care, including feeding choice
• Helps develop pre-feeding skills, for example, sucking
• Supports families to recognise their baby is ready to start feeding by mouth, and the introduction of suck feeding
• Offers guidance regarding readiness to feed without a tube
• Supports families and staff in early language development
• Educates other members of the Neonatal multi-disciplinary team to support quality and evidence-based practice
• Provides regular teaching and training to nursing and medical staff, alongside the wider AHPP, Family Integrated Care and Infant Feeding Teams

In 2024 the service saw 94 per cent of referrals on the same day they were referred, resulting in timely and responsive intervention.

Rachel said: “Over the last three years, there has been a significant increase in the number of babies being discharged with a short term feeding tube.

“This allows them to develop feeding at home in their own time, supported by the Neonatal Community Outreach Team, rather than hospital.

“Babies have been discharged sooner. This leads to more positive feeding, meaning they’re less likely to experience difficulties.”

Born at 30 weeks and five days old, Kyle spent six weeks on the Neonatal Unit.

His mum Emily Tomlinson said: “Alex and Rachel supported Kyle with how to suckle from a bottle. Either would speak to me to find out when Kyle was due his feeds, which made a world of difference.

“When Kyle tired easily or refused to suckle, they explained this was normal for premature babies as it was very tiring. This kept my spirits high.

“They were very knowledgeable, encouraging, supportive, caring and helpful. Kyle is now eight months old, thriving, and enjoying puree.”

Dr Richard Heaver, Clinical Director, said: “We now have a better understanding of the complexities of feeding by mouth, but ask for SLT review more consistently.

“More babies will go home with short-term feeding tubes with access to SLT, and this is positive.”