Expanding access through partnership: a donor’s vision improves speech-language care

Sometimes, the most meaningful healthcare innovations begin with personal experience. That was true for one generous donor, a healthcare worker himself, who realized that during his own care, he wasn’t aware of the speech-language pathology (SLP) services that could have helped him.

Motivated by that experience, he set out to ensure others would not only be aware of these important services, but able to access them when they’re needed most. With support from the QEII Foundation and in partnership with Hearing & Speech Nova Scotia (HSNS), that idea took shape and became a reality.

The donor and his wife worked closely with HSNS leadership and the Foundation to create a dedicated, temporary SLP position aimed at improving access to speech-language and swallowing care for both inpatients and outpatients in the Halifax Regional Municipality. The goal was twofold: to raise awareness of the role SLPs play in recovery, and improve timely access to this critical care.

With added capacity, SLPs were able to participate more fully in interprofessional rounds and clinics, working side by side with physicians, residents, and hospital staff. They offered training, shared knowledge, and made speech-language services more visible and better understood across care teams and by patients.

The impact has been clear. Referrals have increased, wait times have dropped, and healthcare providers know when and how to connect with HSNS.

But the success of this initiative also reveals a long-standing gap: adult speech-language services remain underfunded. As the initial funding period winds down, the question now is how to sustain and build on this progress.

Still, this project stands as a powerful example of what’s possible when lived experience sparks action, and when donors, clinicians, and leaders work together with a shared commitment to better care.

Looking ahead, it offers a strong model for future partnerships—ones that continue to reduce barriers, build capacity, and help more Nova Scotians receive the care they need, when they need it.