10:00am Tuesday 21st November 2006
By Linda Piper
EXPERTS from across the country are urging Bexley Care Trust not to break up one of the UK's top speech therapy teams.
As part of its recovery plan the trust proposes to axe the job of Sara Harris, a specialist speech and language therapist with the team, which is based at Queen Mary's Hospital, Sidcup.
Other experts in the field have now written to the trust urging it to rethink its plans and keep the team, which has an international reputation, together.
Public consultation on the plans ends on Friday, although News Shopper has been unable to get details or who has been consulted on them, from the trust.
Sara Harris works with her husband Tim, an ear, nose and throat (ENT) surgeon who runs the service at Queen Mary's, on behalf of the care trust.
Her sister-in-law Dina Harris is a singing teacher, who provides professional singers with therapy and Jacob Leiberman is an osteopath and psychotherapist, who provides therapy to people who have lost their voice through psychological trauma.
Eleven experts in the field from around the country, including two specialist university lecturers, have written to the care trust to protest at the plans.
They told News Shopper: "We are not sure if you are aware you have a nationally and internationally renowned voice disorders service on your doorstep.
"It carries out innovative, leading edge work, and its text book The Voice Clinic Handbook is a key text for students, and experienced therapists and ENT surgeons."
The experts say Mrs Harris carries out training throughout the UK and also provides a national service for second opinions in complex cases, and supervision and telephone advice on a regular basis.
Anne Hurren is the chief speech and language therapist for Sunderland, visiting lecturer at Newcastle University and adviser to the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists.
She said: "We feel it deserves publicity so the people of Bexley can realise their hospital is famous for a renowned service they can be proud of, and what they may be about to lose."
The care trust says it wants to extend its service into the community, by extending therapy at home and in a clinic rather than at hospital.
It says it will continue to offer speech and language support to in-patients at Queen Mary's, both on the ward and in group sessions.
The proposals also include moving the aphasia group - for people who have developed speech and language problems as a result of a stroke or brain damage - from Queen Mary's to Erith Hospital.
This is causing major concern, as is the axing of a Friday club for around 30 people which meets at the Baptist church hall in Main Road, Sidcup.
A care trust spokesman says it is still in consultation with the staff of voice disorders team and is in talks with neighbouring boroughs about selling the team's expertise to other trusts and hospitals.
Queen Mary's Hospital said: "We are passing all comments we receive about the service on to Bexley Care Trust. This is a very prestigious service and we will regret its loss."
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