Cuts introduced to NHS hearing aid provision

The first rationing of free hearing aids on the NHS came into force in North Staffordshire on 1 October 2015, with the rest of the county planning to mirror the cuts over the coming months.

Despite costing the NHS £90 per hearing aid, most older people with mild hearing loss are no longer eligible for free hearing aids, while those with moderate hearing loss will be required to meet additional criteria in order to receive them.

Paul Breckell, chief executive of charity Action on Hearing Loss, has condemned the move and highlighted serious concerns. He said: “People with hearing loss are bearing the brunt of NHS rationing, with the first ever cuts to free hearing aid services on the NHS. It is a very sad day for the people in North Staffordshire who would benefit from them. “The cuts run contrary to the robust independent evidence which shows the importance of hearing aids, and the views of local people who tell us that hearing aids can be life-changing.

“Not only will new patients who’ve just started to confront their hearing loss be denied access to the only treatment available, many who have already been relying on hearing aids but who now need new ones will not get them. We’ll continue to fight against these ill-thought through, baffling and unprecedented cuts which see the first rationing of NHS services for hearing loss.”

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), approximately one-third of people aged 65 years and over are affected by disabling hearing loss in the UK.

Yet, a recent survey conducted by Action on Hearing Loss, found that 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.

The decision to commence with the cuts was finalised after the CCG suggested that the restrictions would be necessary to help save money, around £200,000 in the first year.

The CCG estimated that its new policy will lead to 500 people a year no longer receiving a hearing aid to help mitigate the decline in their hearing capacity, which sufferers say damages their quality of life.

In effect, individuals will now have to decide whether to pay the much higher prices charged by high street providers, which can charge many thousands of pounds.

With support from local and national deaf organisations and audiology professionals, Action on Hearing Loss has spent 15 months campaigning to reverse the decision made by the North Staffordshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG).

Furthermore, over 5,000 Staffordshire residents have also signed a petition calling for the hearing aid cuts to be stopped.

Commenting on the hearing aid provision cuts, Kathleen Hill, 72, from Kidderminster said: “I have mild to moderate hearing loss in both ears and I was considering withdrawing from social activities before taking the plunge and having my hearing tested several years ago: the effort of trying to participate in conversations with other people was just too great.

“It is no exaggeration to say that my NHS hearing aids have transformed my life and I am passionately opposed to any withdrawal of hearing aid services for people such as me who would be condemned to living in isolation whether on their own or in company.

“It’s why I attended a protest last year organised by Action on Hearing Loss against the CCG’s proposals to cut NHS hearing aid provision - it’s something that means a lot to me.”

A further five CCGs in Staffordshire, NHS Cannock Chase, East Staffordshire, Stafford and Surrounds, South East Staffs and Seisdon and Peninsular are proposing to follow in the steps of the North Staffordshire CCG, meaning that the cuts could affect a further 184,000 people.

For further information on the campaign visit: http://www.actiononhearingloss.org.uk/get-involved/campaign/hearing-aid-cuts/north-staffordshire.aspx