"Building a real rapport"

Our 10 year old daughter was diagnosed with Paradoxical Vocal Fold Movement and it was a distressing time for her and the family.  She was discharged from hospital with no ongoing support and we were informed she would be referred to local Speech & Language team.    

The Discharge Letter that followed was unclear if the hospital had initiated this referral, or if our GP should.  We contacted SLT directly to query this and within 24 hours of leaving a voicemail we had a call with Condorrat Health Centre. The person we spoke to immediately understood the issue and knew a colleague who could help.  A staff member from Wishaw General called the same day offering initial support by phone and clearly understood how distressing this would be for a ten year old.  They both advocated in a clinical review with colleagues that our daughter had a clinical need requiring her referral to be expedited. 

Within two weeks, just before Christmas, they cleared an afternoon so they could deliver a joint in person session - child and adult SLT specialists working together.  Both were very child centred, treated her with respect, listened to her experience, and communicated clearly with her - a major contrast to her experience with her hospital treatment.  This has continued throughout our sessions, with them building a real rapport with her, which helped motivate her to work on the exercises provided.  

We can't thank them enough for the difference this made for her - and for  us as parents.  Although now signed off, they have made it clear that we can access their services again if required.