Waiting list for speech therapy increases

A children's speech and language therapy team has said waiting lists in the island are increasing due to higher demand for services after Covid.

Demand for these services has gone up in Jersey as well as in Guernsey and the rest of the UK.

Demand for the services following the Covid pandemic led to the Children's Speech and Language Therapy department being moved to Enid Quenault.

Rikha Wilmot, who leads the children's therapy team, said that a lack of social interaction was one of the main reasons for the increase in appointments.

"Our service was designed pre-pandemic so we have had very little investment over the years," she said.

"At the moment we are sitting with about 166 waiting for an initial speech and language therapy assessment."

She added: "There has been a real increase in the diagnostics side of things which then impacts our speech and language side of things.

"However we are feeling very optimistic looking forward with all of our pilot programmes."

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