TranslateSpeech Pathology Clinic
Outpatients
Information about outpatient clinics for the assessment and management of adult and paediatric communication and swallowing disorders.
The Department will periodically contact patients waiting for an outpatient clinic appointment via SMS, with a link to an electronic form. This is part of routine waitlist auditing to ensure patient details are up to date. If you receive this SMS, please update your details. Outpatient Central Services can be contacted on 1300 522 809.
Availability
North
Phone: 03 6777 6230
North West
Mersey Community Hospital
Phone: 03 6426 5650
Fax: 03 6441 5934
North West Regional Hospital
Phone: 03 6493 6191
Fax: 03 6464 1928
DC&HSC
Phone: 03 6421 7720
Fax: 03 6441 5946
South
Phone: 03 6166 8434
Fax: 03 6173 0337
Email: [email protected]
Adult outpatient/clinic-based services:
- Clarence Integrated Care Centre
- Glenorchy Community Health Centre
- Kingston Community Health Centre
- Telstra Building (Level 5)
- Royal Hobart Hospital (Holman, Head and Neck Clinic, ENT Clinics, etc.)
Paediatric outpatient services:
Emergency conditions
Emergency conditions/symptoms include (not an exhaustive list):
- Known or suspected dysphagia with aspiration pneumonia and/or weight loss
Emergency care
If you, or someone else, are experiencing a serious and life-threatening injury or illness call triple zero (000) immediately or go to the nearest Emergency Department.
Learn more about when to access emergency care and non-emergency care options if the injury or illness is not serious or life-threatening.
Scope
North
Information unavailable at this time.
North West
Adult
Limited outpatient services for disorders of voice, fluency, communication and swallowing are provided at the North West Regional Hospital and the Mersey Community Hospital.
A Community Speech Pathologist provides services to community based clients eligible against the Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) that includes frail aged people, and younger people with a disability.
Paediatric
Babies with feeding difficulty and preschool aged children who have delay or disorder of fluency, speech or language are seen as outpatients at the Devonport Community Health Centre.
Infants and older children with feeding difficulties are seen at the multidisciplinary Feeding Clinic at the Mersey Community Hospital.
South
Adult
Clinic-based outpatient speech pathology services for adults living in the community requiring support with communication, swallowing, relevant upper airway disorders (i.e. Inducible Laryngeal Obstruction and Chronic Cough), and altered airways (i.e. laryngectomy and tracheostomy).
Paediatric
Paediatric outpatients are only seen as part of specialist clinics (e.g. Cleft Palate), through the Cochlear Implant Team, or for specialist feeding assessment and intervention. Developmental speech and language assessment / therapy is not offered.
Note: Patients may not be eligible for these services in the South if:
1) they are funded by a DVA Gold Card, MAIB, or Worker’s Compensation
2) they are eligible for another government funded service (e.g. NDIS, Home Care Package Level 3 or 4, or Department of Education).
Please direct your referral through to their service provider.
Referral process
All regions
ENT referral required for voice therapy, and paediatrician referral required for outpatient feeding clinic.
A referral is required for all new appointments and must conform to the referral standards. eReferral is now the preferred method of referral for this service and is available in All regions. Please refer via HealthLink SmartForm eReferral through your software system (either Best Practice, or Medical Director). For instructions, see the creating an eReferral quick guide.
Please forward relevant private investigation results and ask patients to bring current medication list and if appropriate any relevant x-rays.
Appointments are based on clinical priority and availability of the client. Wait times are usually between two days and six weeks, depending on the urgency of the presentation.
Referral Requirements - South
For clients being referred for input regarding swallowing problems: please attach a Medical Imaging Request slip with approval for a Videofluoroscopic Swallow Study (VFSS). Your referral will be rejected if this is not received.
For clients being referred for input regarding dysphonia / voice problems or upper airway issues (i.e. Inducible Laryngeal Obstruction, Chronic Cough) please attached Endoscopy / ENT / Respiratory reports (if available).
Where available, eReferral via HealthLink smart forms is now the preferred and only secure method of referral to the Tasmanian Department of Health.
Additional information
Referrals may be discussed with the Community Rehabilitation Unit or Disability Services, St Giles, or Department of Education Speech Pathologists and transferred if another service better suits the client's needs.
Please specify on the referral if you are not willing for this to happen.
