Hearing aid delay disgust

Urgent action is needed to clear a half-million backlog of patients waiting for new hearing aids on the NHS.

The House of Commons Health Committee said not enough priority had been given to the supply of new-style digital hearing aids by the Government or local Primary Care Trusts.

A spokesperson for Heywood, Middleton amp; Rochdale Primary Care Trust was not available at the time of publication.

But the House of Commons Health Committee said it was surprised that nationally, authorities had failed to anticipate a surge in demand after the introduction of digital devices which are far superior to older analogue aids.

One in seven people in England — around 7 million in total — are affected by hearing loss, but the NHS is currently able to supply and fit digital aids to only about 500,000 adults a year, said an MPs’ report, entitled Audiology Services.

It called for extra NHS capacity to clear the backlog and raised concerns over evidence that many NHS–trained audiologists are unable to find jobs.

The 18-week maximum wait target in the NHS currently covers only consultant-led services.

The report uncovered evidence that GPs were referring patients unnecessarily to ear, nose and throat specialists purely as a means of getting them hearing aids more quickly.

The report urged caution in involving the private sector in provision of hearing aid services, recommending short-term contracts until companies showed they were capable of maintaining levels of care.

Many private groups, including High Street opticians, are understood to be keen to supply and fit hearing aids, and the first patients will be treated under NHS contracts with the private sector this year.

The committee voiced concern this might lead to vulnerable patients being encouraged to buy more expensive aids than they really need.