In the House of Commons last week, the children's minister acknowledged that there was a shortage of speech and language therapists. "The answer is to train more people, and we are doing that," she said.
But nearly 90 per cent of workers in the sector surveyed by the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists said they would leave the profession if the Department for Health's Agenda for Change initiative were implemented as it stands at the moment.
The survey also found that 85 per cent of students would leave the profession on qualifying.
Kamini Gadhok, professional director of the Royal College, welcomed Hodge's comments, but feared that the Department of Health's plans could undermine this commitment.
"Some members will see their salaries cut by 8,000 a year as a consequence of Agenda for Change," said Gadhok.
One respondent told how she was seconded to a Sure Start project, but said that if Agenda for Change went ahead she would receive less money when she returned to her original post.
