Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to improve support for people with aphasia.

Rehabilitation services, specifically speech and language therapy, provide much of the National Health Service support for people with aphasia. As clinical commissioning groups are responsible for commissioning these services, they should be taking steps to ensure that support for people with aphasia is available and improve these services where appropriate.

More generally, NHS England is currently reviewing the provision of rehabilitation services. It works in partnership with charities which provide invaluable support for people with aphasia and is also working with the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence on the development of generic rehabilitation guidance which will encompass speech and language therapy.

In addition, as stroke is a significant cause of aphasia, the cardiovascular disease Strategic Clinical Networks are working with commissioners and providers to improve stroke rehabilitation services, including speech and language therapy after stroke.