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In our update this month we are joined by Derek Munn, Director of Policy and Public Affairs and Amit Kulkarni, Head of Research and Outcomes.

We cover:

• Research Champions Professional Network https://www.rcslt.org/members/research/research-networks/#section-2
• Relaunch of registration for Clinical Academic Mentors scheme https://www.rcslt.org/members/research/research-networks/#section-3
• Link between research and outcomes and decision making
• Update on Invest in SLT campaign: https://www.rcslt.org/news/invest-in-slt-campaign-letter-delivered-to-downing-street/
• NHSE Workforce plan – advance tests
• SEND consultation https://www.rcslt.org/news/send-reforms-share-your-views/, EAH detail on ICB roles, and Parliamentary debate (plus PPA and AHPs)
• Welsh manifestos
• Help us build our next strategy: https://www.rcslt.org/news/help-us-build-our-next-strategy/
• RCSLT Research strat plan listening events:
  Listening event 13 May: https://www.linkedin.com/events/7450576966879117313/?viewAsMember=true
  
  Listening event 18 May: https://www.linkedin.com/events/7450581649479880705/?viewAsMember=true
• Podcast for World Voice Day: https://www.rcslt.org/news/new-podcast-highlights-the-importance-of-voice/

About our sponsor:

This episode is sponsored by Zanda. Zanda combines all your admin, billing, scheduling, and communication needs into one easy-to-use platform built specifically for health practitioners. It supports SLTs to simplify practice management, from online bookings and automated reminders to secure notes, AI, invoicing, and payments, all in one connected system. Zanda helps you stay organised, improve cash flow, and create a smooth client experience from first appointment to final payment.

https://zandahealth.com/uk/profession/speech-therapy-software/?utm_source=rcslt&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=UK_Podcast&utm_content=paid

Please be aware that the views expressed are those of the guests and not the RCSLT.

Please let us know what you think of this podcast.

World Voice Day podcast notes

For World Voice Day 2026 RCSLT President Nick Hewer met with two people with voice difficulties, Margaret Stoddart and Jono Organ. They chat about their voice conditions, the difficulties they have faced, how speech and language therapy has supported them and what life is like now.

About the speakers:

Margaret

Elvis Presley fan, registered nurse and grandmother of six, Margaret Stoddart works as cath lab coordinator in the Cardiology department of Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. For the past six years she’s experienced a voice disorder called Muscle Tension Dysphonia and Spasmodic Dysphonia.

Margaret is area contact leader for Dysphonia International, an organisation dedicated to improving the lives of people affected by spasmodic dysphonia and related voice conditions through research, education, awareness, and support. She also hosts her own podcast ‘My Voice, My Way.'

Jono

Jono Organ is married with four children and 11 grandchildren, a self-employed health and safety consultant and trainer, working in the construction industry. He used to enjoy cycling and running before being diagnosed with head and neck cancer. Since his laryngectomy operation in 2023, he’s shifted his focus to awareness raising.

Jono is a governor for the Royal Marsden hospital and sits on panels there, as well as at Great Ormond street Hospital. He is an ambassador to The Throat cancer foundation and also Oracle head and neck UK. In January this year he also set up a laryngectomy support group charity, ‘Life After Lary’.

Nick Hewer:

Nick Hewer, former presenter of iconic television programme Countdown, holds the role of RCSLT President. He is passionate about raising awareness of communication and swallowing difficulties, and helps to promote the message of the RCSLT to the general public. His ongoing work with the RCSLT has earned him an honorary degree from Plymouth Marjon University.

Nick is also a published author, and he has previously worked as a public relations consultant and as Lord Sugar’s right-hand-man on The Apprentice. He is also patron for several charities, including Fairtrade, Hope and Homes for Children, Pancreatic Cancer Action and Street Child Sierra Leone.

Useful links:

• Find out more about World Voice Day 2026, which takes place on April 16: https://worldvoiceday.org/
• ‘My Voice, My Way’ podcast hosted by Margaret: https://myvoicemyway.buzzsprout.com/
• ‘Life After Lary’: https://www.lifeafterlary.co.uk/news/2942375_new-uk-charity-dedicated-to-supporting-people-after-laryngectomy
• What is the RCSLT? https://www.rcslt.org/about-us/

Please be aware that the views expressed are those of the guests and not the RCSLT.

Please let us know what you think of this podcast.

In this podcast we chat with Hannah Waine and Sally Bates about their research which looks at how UK speech and language therapists assess children’s expressive language, in particular looking at whether their practices reflect recommendations from the CATALISE consensus statements (published 2016/17). (CATALISE redefined Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) and emphasised the importance of assessing functional impairment and real‑life impact, not just test scores.)

The paper is:

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/1460-6984.12883

Hannah Waine, Sally Bates, Pauline Frizelle, Tomasina M. Oh

Please be aware that the views expressed are those of the guests and not the RCSLT.

Please let us know what you think of this podcast.

In our update this month we are joined by Derek Munn, Director of Policy and Public Affairs and Pippa Cotterill, Head of Wales office at the RCSLT and they cover:

• Second State of the Nation report from Wales - giving an update on what's changed since last year's report.
• Welsh elections.
• Westminster event on Primary Progressive Aphasia: https://www.rcslt.org/news/invite-your-mp-to-attend-primary-progressive-aphasia-parliamentary-event/
• Update on SEND reforms in England.
• Update on Assisted Dying in Scotland.
• SEN classes in Northern Ireland.
• and more!

Please be aware that the views expressed are those of the guests and not the RCSLT.

Please let us know what you think of this podcast.

In our update this month Derek Munn, Director of Policy and Public Affairs at the RCSLT covers:

• Schools white paper in England and SEND provision- what we know so far.
• Scottish election manifesto asks: https://www.rcslt.org/news/rcslt-scotland-publishes-key-manifesto-asks-ahead-of-2026-elections/
• UK wide report on DLD in exams: New report calls for exam reform to support students with Developmental Language Disorder | RCSLT
• Voicebox competition launches in Northern Ireland: VoiceBox competition launches across Northern Ireland | RCSLT
• Swallowing Awareness Day 18 March https://www.rcslt.org/news/get-involved-in-swallowing-awareness-day-2026/
• Westminster event on Primary Progressive Aphasia: https://www.rcslt.org/news/invite-your-mp-to-attend-primary-progressive-aphasia-parliamentary-event/
• Response to cancer strategy.
• Letter from AHPs to Wes Streeting: https://www.rcslt.org/news/rcslt-joins-professional-bodies-calling-for-government-action-on-ahps/
• RCSLT workforce survey – call for responses to help us build the evidence base on vacancies and retention: https://www.rcslt.org/news/complete-the-2026-workforce-survey/.

Please be aware that the views expressed are those of the guests and not the RCSLT.

Send a text

In our update this month Derek Munn, Director of Policy and Public Affairs at the RCSLT covers:

• Looking ahead – events on the horizon for 2026 including Scottish and Welsh elections, the NHSE workforce plan and other focus areas and SEND reform in England.
• RCSLT workforce survey – call for responses to help us build the evidence base on vacancies and retention: https://www.rcslt.org/news/complete-the-2026-workforce-survey/.
• First 1,000 days report including evidence from speech and language therapy https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/81/health-and-social-care-committee/news/211450/boost-infants-life-chances-with-more-family-hubs-health-visitors-and-new-vaccines-strategy-mps-tell-govt/.
• Response to Freedom from Violence and abuse strategy: https://www.rcslt.org/news/rcslt-warns-new-freedom-from-violence-and-abuse-strategy-fails-to-address-communication-barriers/
• Call to fill vacancy of the Welsh Chief Allied Health Professions Officer in the Senedd.
• Update on assisted dying from Jersey, Scotland and the UK.
• The Mental Health Act receives royal assent in England: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/mental-health-bill-receives-royal-assent-revolutionising-care.

Please be aware that the views expressed are those of the guests and not the RCSLT.

Please do take a few moments to respond to our podcast survey: uk.surveymonkey.com/r/LG5HC3R

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In our update this month Derek Munn, Director of Policy and Public Affairs at the RCSLT covers:

• Big news from 2025, including RCSLT successes such as the Invest in SLT debate, Voicebox competition in Scotland, Language Launchpad and launch of AHPF Cymru in Wales; the budget in England.
• Lots happening in Scotland around children and young people. RCSLT particularly welcomes the 'Early years speech, language and communication action plan': https://www.gov.scot/publications/speech-language-communication-action-plan/
• Best Start Family Hubs in England to be a one-stop shop for parents of children with SEND.
• Publication of the 'Getting it right first time' head and neck cancer report: https://gettingitrightfirsttime.co.uk/medical_specialties/head-and-neck-cancer/
• The House of Lords committee on the Autism Act has highlighted speech, language, and communication, the role of speech and language therapy, and the barriers too many autistic people, of all ages, and their families face accessing it, across education, employment, health, justice, and social care
• The Office of the Chief Allied Health Professions Officer (CAHPO) at NHS England has commissioned NHS Elect to co-produce a Transformation Toolkit for NHS community speech and language therapy services for children and young people https://www.rcslt.org/news/toolkit-to-support-nhs-services-to-reduce-waiting-times-for-children-and-young-people/

Please be aware that the views expressed are those of the guests and not the RCSLT.

Please do take a few moments to respond to our podcast survey: uk.surveymonkey.com/r/LG5HC3R

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In this podcast we chat with Loretta Gasparini about the research she led on finding a robust predictor tool for persistent language disorders. The aim of this research is to identify young children who are likely to have persisting language difficulties, so that we can recruit them into research, build a strong evidence base and ultimately support them to thrive.

The paper is:

Identifying early language predictors: A replication of Gasparini et al. (2023) confirming applicability in a general population. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1460-6984.13086

Loretta Gasparini, Daisy A. Shepherd, Jing Wang, Melissa Wake, Angela T. Morgan

This paper was awarded the International Journal of Language and Communication Disorders 2024 Editors' Prize.

GITHUB LINK:

https://github.com/lottiegasp/languagepredictions

DEMONSTRATOR LINK:

https://storage.googleapis.com/rcslt/Index.html

Please be aware that the views expressed are those of the guests and not the RCSLT.

Please do take a few moments to respond to our podcast survey: uk.surveymonkey.com/r/LG5HC3R