NHS Anglia Commissioning Support Unit
People aged over 50 in central Norfolk now have an increased choice of where to go for hearing tests and aids, the first of which will be at local high-street branches of Scrivens Opticians and The Hearing Company.
The service is available at three branches of Scrivens Opticians in Norwich, The Hearing Company in Norwich, Scrivens Opticians in Diss, Fakenham Optometrists and Lords Opticians in North Walsham.
David Gunton MSHAA, the hearing aid audiologist in the Norwich branches of Scrivens Opticians and The Hearing Company, said: “Traditionally NHS hearing aids have only been available from hospitals, but we are delighted to be working with the CCGs in central Norfolk to offer this free service on the high street.
“This service is of huge benefit to NHS patients, improving care locally and offering more choice, with appointments at times to suit patients’ lifestyles. With the over 50s now able to choose which hearing aid audiologist they are referred to by their GP, hearing care is simpler, faster, more convenient and easier to access – a positive outcome for both the patient and the NHS.
“We will be able to offer a comprehensive hearing assessment and, if needed, a high-tech hearing aid on the same day. Our service doesn’t stop there, we also provide aftercare free of charge for patients for up to three years, along with support to ensure that patients get the best possible hearing from their hearing aids.”
This service is available for patients in the Norwich, North Norfolk and South Norfolk Clinical Commissioning Groups.
Dr Linda Hunter, senior partner at Hoveton and Wroxham Medical Practice, was a member of the team that assessed the applications that were received from potential providers. She said: “As a CCG, North Norfolk is committed to ensuring our patients receive high-quality services delivered as close to home as possible. We have consulted with our patients about different ways we can achieve this. Throughout the assessment we have focused on how the service offered by each provider met our priorities and standards and feel that those we have qualified will enable our patients to have a greater choice of location for their assessment. Patients will still be able to choose to go to the existing hospital clinics if they prefer though.”
Ellis Layward, Clinical Programme Manager for North Norfolk Clinical Commissioning Group, said: “Norfolk patients already benefit from GP direct referrals to adult hearing care services at local hospitals. However our patients and GPs wanted to ensure that people with age-related hearing problems could opt to receive these services closer to home. Scrivens is the first of several new providers that will provide high-quality services with short waiting times, free at the point of access.”
Notes:
The new service has been put in place after Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) in Norwich, North Norfolk and South Norfolk accredited Scrivens and The Hearing Company to deliver NHS hearing assessments on their behalf alongside services already provided by local hospital clinics.
This includes the hearing test, fitting and supply of hearing aids, batteries and aftercare, all free of charge to patients.
This was made possible following recent changes in Government rules to enable hearing care providers to work alongside GPs across Norfolk to ensure the best local community service for patients in the area.
Over 10 million people in the UK have some form of hearing loss of whom 6 million would benefit from wearing a hearing aid. Most are older people who are gradually losing their hearing as part of the aging process, with 40pc of over 50 years old and more than 70pc of over 70 year olds having some form of hearing loss.
It has been estimated that over the next two decades, due to increasing survival, the number of hearing-impaired people and the associated demand for both hearing assessment and treatment services will probably rise by some 20 pc.
This impact will be proportionally greater in Norfolk which has a larger than average percentage of older persons with 21.4pc of the population aged 65 years or older.
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