Inpatient speech-language therapy (adults) — Auckland (North and West)

Inpatient speech-language therapists provide assessment and intervention for adult hospital patients who have communication and swallowing difficulties.

On this page

Contact us

You can call Inpatient speech-language therapy services on either:

They are available 8am to 4pm every day. Weekend and public holiday input is restricted to the highest priority cases only as cover is limited.

Where to find us

North Shore Hospital
124 Shakespeare Road
Takapuna
Auckland
Waitākere Hospital
55 Lincoln Road
Henderson
Auckland

Services we provide

Interventions are patient centred and aimed at working towards patient, carer and whānau needs and goals.

Interventions include:

  • providing swallowing and communication assessment and management
  • designing and setting up specific rehabilitation programmes to work towards the swallowing and communication goals identified by the patient and their whānau
  • supporting patients in finding ways to compensate for and adapt to their changing communication and swallowing status associated with their medical condition, such as progressive neurological disorders.

Speech-language therapists work with other health professionals in the hospital wards, including doctors, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, and dietitians to make sure a multidisciplinary approach is considered.

Speech-language therapists at Waitematā also work closely with speech-language therapists in rehabilitation facilities, in the community and other hospitals to make sure safe and effective transfer of care.

Communication and swallowing problems can be caused by lots of health issues including:

  • stroke
  • brain injury
  • degenerative conditions such as Parkinson's disease, dementia, and motor-neurone disease
  • respiratory conditions such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and recurrent pneumonia
  • cancer of the head, neck, throat, and brain.

Common conditions include:

  • aphasia — sometimes referred to as dysphasia
  • apraxia
  • dysarthria
  • dysphagia.

Referral information

You can self-refer to speech-language therapy services. You can also be referred by:

  • your healthcare provider
  • whānau
  • other health professionals involved in your care.