Cathy Allen
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Speech Therapist, Health NZ - Auckland, NZA
Cathy Allen is a speech therapist with 13 years of clinical experience, working across both public and private healthcare settings in Auckland. Cathy has worked internationally in London, Australia, and Auckland, across both hospital and community-based settings.
She is based at Auckland City Hospital within the Otorhinolaryngology Department, where she specialises in voice, upper airway, and dysphagia management, and contributes to multidisciplinary head and neck cancer clinics. She also provides laryngectomy management as part of her clinical practice. In addition to her public role, she runs similar specialist clinics in private practice within Auckland. |
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Laryngectomy and Tracheostomy Management at Auckland City Hospital - the SLT Role
This presentation will provide an overview of laryngectomy and tracheostomy management at Auckland Hospital, highlighting the integral role of the Speech-Language Therapist (SLT) within the multidisciplinary team. Attendees will gain insight into the SLT’s involvement across the continuum of care, from pre-operative assessment and education, through to acute inpatient management, rehabilitation and long-term follow-up.
The session will explore communication and swallowing considerations following total laryngectomy, including methods of voice restoration, patient education, and functional outcomes. Tracheostomy management will be discussed, including communication support, swallowing assessment, cuff management considerations, and facilitating progression towards decannulation where appropriate.
Using clinical examples and practical insights from a tertiary hospital setting, this presentation will demonstrate how SLTs contribute to safe, patient-centred care and collaborate with surgeons, nurses, physiotherapists, dietitians, and other healthcare professionals to optimise outcomes for individuals with altered airway anatomy.
The session will explore communication and swallowing considerations following total laryngectomy, including methods of voice restoration, patient education, and functional outcomes. Tracheostomy management will be discussed, including communication support, swallowing assessment, cuff management considerations, and facilitating progression towards decannulation where appropriate.
Using clinical examples and practical insights from a tertiary hospital setting, this presentation will demonstrate how SLTs contribute to safe, patient-centred care and collaborate with surgeons, nurses, physiotherapists, dietitians, and other healthcare professionals to optimise outcomes for individuals with altered airway anatomy.
