THE partner of a woman who suffered a debilitating stroke nearly seven months ago claims her path to recovery is being blocked because of an "appalling lack of speech therapy provision" in the hospitals where she has been cared for.

Carl Powell said he is frustrated that his partner Sheila Singh, aged 65, has had "little or no speech therapy" in either the Cedar ward at Newtown Hospital or the Willow ward in Evesham Community Hospital since her stroke on September 14, 2004.

"Sheila was also paralysed down the right-hand side and although she still has no feeling she is definitely becoming stronger in herself," the 59-year-old from Stonearrow Farm in Pinvin told the Worcester News.

"But her recovery is being held back because there has been no progress with her speech whatsoever.

"There was little or no speech therapy in the Cedar ward and in the Willow ward she is having just half-an-hour a week.

Mr Powell said he has even offered to pay for a private speech therapist to come in and help Sheila but claims he was told at the Cedar Ward this would "upset routine" and in the Willow ward it was "against health and safety regulations".

He has now turned to the Malvern-based charity Association for Rehabilitation of Communication and Oral Skills (ARCOS) for advice and support.

ARCOS director Kay Coombes said his comments were sadly all too familiar.

"We receive many phone calls from across the country from people who say that they wish there was more speech and language therapy in hospitals," she said.

"There is a level of unmet need and we would like to see a contracted service so we and others like us could provide services in hospitals."

A spokesperson from Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust declined to comment on speech therapy provision, adding a letter had been sent to Mr Powell dealing with his concerns.

Janet Ferguson, spokesperson for South Worcestershire Primary Care Trust which runs Evesham Community Hospital, said: "Each patient who has had a stroke has individual needs. A weekly session with a speech therapist is only part of the whole management of a patient's care.

"Nursing staff are also there to provide ongoing support on a daily basis with any patient who is undergoing rehabilitation."

Have you got a health story? Contact health reporter Rebecca Fisher on 01905 742260 or e-mail: rf@thisisworcester.co.uk