Dysphagia - healthcare professionals

Swallow Aware is supporting collective activity to provide solutions to the following regional dysphagia priorities and create a regional groundswell of awareness of the life changing impact of swallowing difficulties. 

The regional dyshagia priorities are:

1. Dysphagia Personal and Public Involvement:  Involving people with dysphagia in the design, development, delivery and decision making of all project outcomes.
    
2. Dysphagia Friendly Foods: Understanding the lived experiences of people living on dysphagia friendly foods and the support provided to catering services across sectors to produce dysphagia friendly foods.  Developing initiatives to support the provision of regional excellence in the provision of dysphagia friendly foods. 
    
3. Tele Eating Drinking and Swallowing: Piloting delivery of Speech and Language Therapy assessment to people living in nursing homes with eating, drinking and swallowing needs using videoconferencing technology.
    
4. Regional Speech and Language Therapy Swallowing Recommendations: Developing a regional Speech and Language Therapy swallowing recommendations which is unambiguous and includes swallowing recommendations and key safety information.
    
5. Regional Approach to Dysphagia Training: Co-production of a regional training proposal with HSCNI, community and third sector groups  and developing a regional approach to public awareness of Dysphagia and awareness of staff to provide support and capacity.
    
6. Evaluation of the International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Iniative Exploring the impact of the regionally agreed and mandated terminology for food and fluid texture descriptors  (International Dietary Descriptors Standardisation Initiative) on the practice of staff groups  across Northern Ireland.
    
7. Review adverse incident reporting Create better reporting and shared learning to improve safety and confidence for everyone.

8. Dysphagia Friendly Meds:  Raise awareness and support medication management guidelines.

9. Oral care guidance: Develop oral hygiene guidance for people with a swallowing difficulty.

10. Identification Checklist: Assist health care professionals in recognising how swallowing difficulties may present, alongside supporting actions to further highlight the needs of the service user.

Training and awareness 
Universal Swallow Awareness Training Course

content / links 

Logos

The Swallow Aware logo is available to download below as a full colour jpg file, a black png version and a while (reverse out) png version. EPS files for use by designers and printers are also attached in a zip file below. Please consult the Brand guidelines below to ensure proper application when using the logos and contact the PHA if unsure of application.

Swallow Aware Logo Black.png (591×350) (hscni.net)

Swallow Aware Logo Colour.jpg (591×350) (hscni.net)

Swallow Aware Logo White.png (591×350) (hscni.net)

Swallow Aware Logos EPS version final

Swallow Aware Brand Guidelines 12_19.pdf (hscni.net)

Dysphagia resources

• How to Help People with Swallowing Difficulties Keep Their Mouths Clean: information for carers and staff to support oral hygiene for people with swallowing difficulties. 
• Swallowing Difficulties Observational Checklist: information to help identify adults with swallowing difficulties or someone whose pre-existing swallowing difficulty may have changed.
• PATH Resource – Position, Alert, Textures, Help: information for carers and staff to support safe swallowing at mealtimes
• Dysphagia Adverse Incident Trigger List: Information for Healthcare staff on reporting swallowing related incidents or “near misses” using local risk management systems
• NI Formulary Website Poster –  Medication information for adults with swallowing difficulties – everything at just one click for healthcare professionals, patients and carers