Mike’s achievement has also been recognised in a letter from the Prime Minister and covered by newspapers and websites worldwide since it was first revealed by the Trust three months ago.
Patient Mark Wilson, who has Parkinson’s disease, approached Weston General Hospital in May because he was due to give the traditional Father of the Bride’s speech at his daughter Melissa’s forthcoming wedding – and was worried that his stammer would prevent him.
Mike Richards was aware of an electronic technique called Delayed Auditory Feedback, which can help some Parkinson’s patients to improve their speech/hearing feedback pattern sufficiently to speak more normally. Unfortunately, the electronic devices on the market can cost up to £2,000 each.
It was while researching these machines on the internet on Mark’s behalf that Mike stumbled on the inexpensive app which claimed to have the same benefit and which he then downloaded and tried on Mark – with miraculous results.
Mark, aged 53, from Churchill, said at the time: “It was like flicking a switch. As soon as I put the earpiece in my ear and started using the app, I sounded perfectly normal again. To me it sounds in my ear as if the device is repeating what I say back to me, but to the listener, it just sounds as if I am speaking perfectly normally.
“It is a minor miracle and has given me my old self back again.”
Speech and Language Therapist Mike Richards said: “This technique does not work for everyone with a stammer – probably about a third of patients – but when it works, as it did in Mark’s case, it is instant – just like flicking a switch and the difference is immense.
“It was fantastic to be able to track down something so innovative and inexpensive that has changed my patient’s life so drastically – it made me very proud to be a speech and language therapist at Weston General Hospital and of the difference we can make – and now national TV coverage will help spread the word too.”
Mike and Mark spent two days making the film with the BBC One Show crew and it is due to be broadcast on Friday, 2 September 2011 at 7pm. It shows Mark practising for the wedding speech and his consultation with Mike at Weston General Hospital.
The story has received coverage around the world. Mark’s son Lee lives in Australia and he was able to read about his father’s experience in a newspaper for commuters at Sydney railway station. Media organisations as far afield as Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates also carried it.
The coverage generated enquiries from patients near and far choosing to approach Weston Area Health NHS Trust for advice on living with Parkinson’s Disease and the effect on speech that it sometimes has.
In his letter of congratulations to Mike, Prime Minister David Cameron wrote: “I was delighted to read about the innovative way you have treated this patient and wished to congratulate you on what you have achieved.
“Innovation is key to a modern NHS and vital to achieving the best outcomes for patients.”
Weston Area Health NHS Trust Speech and Language Therapists are taking enthusiastic part in the Giving Voice Campaign, which is running throughout 2011 and is organised by their Royal College.
Giving Voice aims to increase understanding of the role of speech and language therapy (SLT) and to show how SLT transforms lives, and releases value for Government, society and the economy.
Further information on the campaign is available at www.GivingVoiceUK.org
For further information, please contact Caroline Welch, Head of Communications on 01934 647091