Rochdale Stamps out Stammering and Secures NHS Award

Date published: 24/04/2006

Speech and Language Therapist, Daniel Hunter is the winner of a prestigious health award for developing a ground-breaking scheme which attempts to identify stammers in under five year olds.

The NHS Award for Individual Achievement is Daniel’s second victory in a matter months - he was crowned Speech and Language Therapist of the Year just last year.

The exciting new way of helping children with their stammers is now sought after by Speech Therapists nationwide. Daniel has also devised an individual parent training approach in which he treats children who have a range of speech and language difficulties in community clinics one of which is Taylor Street Clinic. This was crucial in securing his NHS Award.

Daniel, from Lowerfold, who suffered from stammering himself in earlier life said; “This award means a lot to me. To be appreciated in this way is something that all health professionals value and I feel very honoured. Hopefully Rochdale patients now feel assured that they are receiving a service which is client centred, time efficient and clinically effective.”

He now has big plans for the future and is currently researching the effectiveness and accuracy of a new tool which is designed to assess a child’s risk of persistence with regards to stammering.

Daniel will be presenting the ‘Under fives service for children who stammer’ at the International Fluency Association Conference in Dublin later this year.

Lindsay Tompson, Speech and Language Therapist Manager for Rochdale PCT said; “Daniel’s success is an outstanding personal achievement and a testament to the dedications and the quality of staff we have working here in Rochdale. Gaining such high status recognition is great for generating staff morale and increasing patient confidence that we will continue to provide a high quality service for local people.”