Charity calls for the adoption of national standards 'to protect NHS hearing loss services'

Two in five NHS audiology departments (41 per cent) are being forced to cut core services due to shrinking budgets or increased demand, affecting hundreds of thousands of people across the UK, according to new research gathered by the charity Action on Hearing Loss.

Freedom of Information requests, which the charity issued to every NHS adult audiology service in the UK, have revealed that the NHS is already struggling to cope with reduced staff numbers, restricted access to hearing aids and patients facing longer waiting times for shorter appointments - yet a fifth (19 per cent) of NHS hearing loss services are aware of further budget cuts that will take place in the next 12 months.

Paul Breckell, chief executive of Action on Hearing Loss, said: “Making short-term savings by reducing the quality and availability of life-changing hearing services is a false economy that will lead to higher NHS and social care costs in the long run.

“The personal cost of these cuts could be even higher for the one in six people affected, with untreated hearing loss leading to social isolation, unemployment and dementia among other health conditions.

“Rather than a postcode lottery of care, we need a forward-thinking plan that will enable frontline staff to deliver every patient the advice and support that they have the right to expect from our NHS.

“We are calling on The National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and the government to protect NHS hearing loss services by developing and rolling out national quality standards, so that local NHS providers have evidence-based guidance and adequate support to meet the needs of deaf and hard of hearing people across the UK.”

If you would like to show your support for the charity’s proposals, please visit www.actiononhearingloss.org.uk/underpressure for further information, including how to contact your local MP.