THH received a visit last month from their ODN SLT Lead. THH was one of the nine units to receive Ockenden funding for Speech and Language Therapy in London, enhancing their historical in-reach community service to provide weekly, ring-fenced SLT provision on this North West London local neonatal unit. The neonatal team at THH have always been welcoming and proactive, and it was great to meet key members of the neonatal team who have built strong relationships with the SLTs, Helen Murrell and Roberta Mackey. Helen and Roberta work in the community also, providing on-going care for NICU families post discharge.

In conversation, it became clear how integral the relationship between SLT, the Practice Development Nurse and Governance Nurse is when planning joint teaching and considering new guidelines to support staff.. The visit even included meeting a parent who had received support from Helen and Roberta in establishing suck feeding. This highlighted how valuable parental feedback can be in demonstrating both the impact and the ongoing need for growth of the service.