Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to increase the number of speech and language therapists in (a) South Yorkshire (b) England.

The National Health Service has launched its fifth consecutive national recruitment campaign ‘We are the NHS’ to inspire people to consider a career in healthcare and increase applications for healthcare courses, including Speech and Language Therapists.

The Student Loans Company provides the primary funding support package for students in further education. Student loans are subsidised by the taxpayer, this is a conscious investment in the skills and people of this country. Eligible students also have access to a non-repayable grant of £5,000 per academic year plus additional grants and supports depending on their circumstances. The Government continues to widen access to speech and language therapy careers through apprenticeship routes.

As of October 2022, there were 6,986 full time equivalent (FTE) speech and language therapists in NHS trusts and commissioning bodies in England, an increase of 20% since October 2010 and 186 FTE in the South Yorkshire Integrated Care Board, an increase of 24% since October 2010.