AAC WEST is one of 15 Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) specialised services in England. We assess children and adults in the South West of England.
Who Can Refer?
- New assessments: Only speech therapists funded by the health, education, or social care can refer. If you don’t have a speech therapist, ask your GP to refer you to your local NHS SLT service. (Private therapists can’t refer directly, but can support the referral by working with the NHS therapist. See Private Therapists page for more info [LINK to new page]).
- Mounting referrals: Anyone can send these (e.g. family, carers, teachers).
- Repairs: No referral needed. If your AAC WEST device or mount needs fixing, email aacwesttech@nbt.nhs.uk. Visit the Support Guide Page [LINK] for more help.
How to refer
All referrals must be filled in electronically (no handwritten forms). Please include:
- NHS number
- GP details
- Ethnicity (unless declined)
- A short video
- Current reports
- Consent to share information. (See Consent Symbols [DOCUMENT] for supporting this conversation).
All referral forms should be emailed to aacwestadmin@nbt.nhs.uk
| Referral Type | When to complete | Who can complete | Form |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full Referral Form | For assessment for:
| SLTs only | |
| Re-Referral Form | For re-assessment if had a full assessment in the last 12 months (not including mounting or access only appointments) | SLTs only | |
| Mounting Referral Form | For a new mount or mount for a new chair | Anyone | |
| Triage Loan Form | To request a triage iPad to assess eligibility before referring. | SLTs only |
Funding and criteria
We check if the person meets NHS Specialised Services criteria when they are referred. We also review this during the assessment. If they meet the criteria, AAC WEST will fund the AAC. If not, they might still find AAC helpful, but it should be funded by local services.
These NHS national documents explain the referral criteria and how the local and specialised services work.
- Guidance for commissioning AAC services and equipment - Information about the remit and specification of the local and specialised AAC services
- Specialised AAC Services Eligibility Criteria (full document with additional guidance) 2025(PDF)
- Specialised AAC Services Eligibility Criteria (shorter version) 2025 (PDF)
- Flow chart - Decision Tree 2025 (PDF)
Visit the Communication Matters website (Communication Matters) for more details.
If you're unsure whether the individual meets the NHS Specialised Services criteria, we're always happy to discuss the referral with you before you complete the form.
Please feel free to call the AAC WEST Service Lead on 0117 414 5850 to discuss.
Contact AAC West
Telephone Admin Office: 0117 4145850
Email: aacwestadmin@nbt.nhs.uk
Address:
Bristol Centre for Enablement
Highwood Pavilions
Jupiter Road
Patchway
Bristol
BS34 5BW
If you are using Google Maps to find us, please use the postcode BS34 5SP.