Kate Toft

Dr Kate Toft is a Lecturer in Speech and Language Therapy within the Speech and Hearing Science Division at Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh. She maintains dual professional affiliations as a Certified Member of the Royal College of Speech & Language Therapists (RCSLT), Registrant with the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC), and member of BAHNO (British Association of Head and Neck Oncologists).

Her primary academic focus involves leading the pre-registration eating, drinking and swallowing competencies project, which implements new RCSLT-mandated competency requirements across student practice placements in the QMU catchment area. This work requires close coordination with clinical partners to standardize assessment protocols for dysphagia management training.

Dr Toft's research concentrates on head and neck cancer-related dysphagia, behaviour change methodologies, and clinical outcomes measurement, directly informed by her concurrent role as a Speech & Language Therapist in NHS Lothian's head & neck cancer service. This integrated clinical-academic approach bridges evidence-based practice with professional education standards.

Her professional activities demonstrate significant contributions to competency-based education reform in speech and language therapy, particularly in specialized dysphagia management for oncology patients, while maintaining active clinical practice in the NHS.