The Flemish Association for Speech Therapists (VVL) is sounding the alarm in the Mediahuis newspapers today. Around 160 independent speech therapists in Flanders have closed their practice in the past year and a half. The association hopes that the upcoming negotiations will put an end to the declining number of speech therapists.
The speech therapists are not satisfied with the convention imposed by the federal government. According to the VVL, the demand to increase fees is not being met sufficiently. A majority of speech therapists have now deconventioned, allowing them to charge higher rates. In addition, 160 independent speech therapists have also decided to throw in the towel.
We have never seen speech therapists drop out so en masse.
As a result of the declining number of practices, waiting times are increasing. Children who stutter or who have a language disorder currently have to wait six to eight months to see a speech therapist.
“We have never seen speech therapists drop out so en masse. We see the same problem in Wallonia. That should not be surprising, because the circumstances are the same,” says Stefaan Lefevere of the VVL to Belga. According to Lefevere, graduates are less and less willing to start as independent speech therapists. There is therefore a threat of a structural shortage if the situation does not improve.
Negotiations on a new convention will follow shortly, as the current, imposed convention expires this year. It is not yet clear whether there will be sufficient budget to counter the imminent shortage of speech therapists. “We want to start those negotiations with a positive attitude,” it sounds.
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