actiononhearingloss.org.uk
15
Diagnosis, information and support
Our research shows that there are still significant barriers to people getting the right
diagnosis and to accessing the services they need – and that the hospital-care model alone
is no longer appropriate for our ageing population. This needs to change.
Our impact
Stopping the cuts
We successfully responded to unprecedented threats to stop the provision of free hearing
aids on the NHS, by influencing eight Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs), out of nine in
England, to scale back or cease these plans.
Following the CCG’s decision to cut hearing aid provision in North Staffordshire,
6,116 people signed our petition calling on Staffordshire County Council to do everything
in its power to stop further cuts to NHS hearing services across the county. This triggered
a full County Council debate at which the council voted decisively to support the petition.
Increasing referrals
We’ve been working to increase referrals to audiology services for people with
hearing loss by:
•
Stepping up our campaign for the introduction of a hearing-screening programme for
people aged 65. Over 450 people agreed with our argument that a hearing-screening
programme would raise awareness amongst the general public and GPs, normalise
having a hearing test and wearing hearing aids – and start people on the road to
getting help earlier. We also worked with our corporate partner, Boots Hearingcare,
to promote the Great Big Hearing Check: 40,000 people got their hearing
checked for free.
•
Developing a GP awareness and referral pilot project. This is a very targeted way
of improving GPs’ awareness – and increasing referrals. We’ve been doing a lot of
research to work out which activities are most effective, so we can pilot the best
approaches in 2016–17.
More people should benefit from cochlear implants.
We worked with the Ear Foundation on a policy statement,
which had clear recommendations for government – and for
NHS guidelines. Golf club manager, Steve Rumball, told us.
“My cochlear implant has transformed my life – and my
family’s life – in ways I never thought possible.”