Sheffield Hospital showcases innovation in services during visit from Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists
6 February 2026
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Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust recently welcomed Steve Jamieson, Chief Executive Officer of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT), to hear about the outstanding work and innovation taking place across the Trust’s Speech and Language Therapy (SLT) services.
The visit highlighted a range of innovative projects delivered by SLT teams in Sheffield, with presentations showcasing specialist practice across Head and Neck Oncology and the Enhanced Health in Care Homes project. Together, these services demonstrate the breadth, expertise and impact of SLT provision across the city.
The event also brought together key partner organisations that work closely with SLT teams, including The University of Sheffield, Sheffield Children’s Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, the Integrated Specialist Dementia Network (ISDN), the ICB and OHK. A roundtable discussion focused on the needs of the current and future workforce in driving innovation, improving patient outcomes and enhancing service quality.
Anita Smith, Head of Speech and Language Therapy and Dysphagia at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, and Chair of the event, said: “We were thrilled to welcome Steve to our service and to share the impact our fantastic teams have on patients across Sheffield. It was really inspiring to bring together teams and organisations from across the city for this collaborative event, which demonstrated how specialist expertise, creativity and partnership can enhance patient experience while maintaining the highest standards of safety and quality.”
The visit also showcased innovation in the provision of texture modified foods. OHK, a Specialist Partner for Dysphagia Management, worked alongside Trust chefs to deliver an International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative (IDDSI) tailored buffet lunch, highlighting best practice in safe, dignified and tasty food options for patients with swallowing difficulties.
Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists’ Chief Executive said: “It was an absolute pleasure to spend time with the speech and language therapy team at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals. A huge thank you to Anita Smith and her colleagues for providing me with such a thoughtful and varied programme during my visit.
“Hearing from speech and language therapy leads across the service about the evidence-based care they provide for patients and clients was impressive. I also had the opportunity to chair a roundtable discussion on the challenges facing the profession, particularly around workforce, where a clear commitment to staff and patient wellbeing really stood out. I left Sheffield confident that the care being delivered is of the highest standard and that the speech and language therapy profession is in very safe hands.”
