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EMERGENCY

In an emergency, always call triple zero (000). It’s a free call from any phone, mobile or phone box.

For other urgent medical issues, go to an Emergency Department.

Our Emergency Departments are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week:

Lismore Base Hospital’s Speech Pathology Department provides assessment and management for patients with communication and swallowing disorders. Speech Pathology services are included in the multidisciplinary care of inpatients as well as targeted outpatient services.

Inpatient services

Our team will assess and manage communication and swallowing disorders in adults, and feeding difficulties for newborn babies and children.

We care for and manage patients following laryngectomy surgery as well as those requiring a tracheostomy.

Our Speech Pathologists regularly provide input into stroke unit case conferences and are regularly involved in broader speech pathology team meetings including referrals to relevant services.

Instrumental assessments are completed with inpatients via Video Fluoroscopy (VFSS) and Fiberoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallow (FEES) as indicated.

Outpatient services

Speech Pathology outpatient services include patients who require swallowing assessment and management where they don’t meet the criteria for a team referral via the Richmond Day Therapy Service or Home Based Rehabilitation service.

The LBH Speech Pathology service manages patients living in the community following laryngectomy surgery, as well as those with a tracheostomy. To be eligible, patients must be aged 18 years and over and from the Lismore catchment area.

LBH Speech Pathology can also provide information to those considering a PEG feeding tube as well as longer term support where patients require regular adjustments from MDT care. Instrumental assessments via VFSS and FEES are also completed for outpatients where indicated.

Speech Pathology services at the North Coast Cancer Institute provide education, assessment and management for patients receiving radiation treatment. Services are provided to those patients who are experiencing or are expected to experience swallowing or communication difficulties as a result of their diagnosis or treatment. Services may be provided before, during and after treatment.

Hours of Service: 8.30am to 4.30pm, Monday to Friday, 9am to 1pm Saturday