Free hearing check-up offer for people affected by NHS hearing aid cuts

We were sad to discover that the NHS has started to deny hearing aids to people suffering with mild hearing loss. This was announced recently, with the first reports coming from the North Staffordshire area, where sufferers are no longer eligible for free hearing aids. Freedom of information requests submitted by the charity, Action on Hearing Loss, shows that twenty-two other NHS Trusts and Commissioning Groups, including Brent (north London), Trafford (Manchester), Gateshead and South Tyneside are looking into “decommissioning” some audiology services. In addition, some other NHS trusts have limited hearing aids to one per person, for some patients, in areas such as Sheffield, Kent and Gloucestershire.

NHS chiefs advises “Just lip read”

The Daily Mail recently reported that it has seen a leaflet, distributed to patients in the North Staffordshire area, advising people with hearing loss “You can’t have a hearing aid – just lip read instead,” advice which we find unbelievable.

We know that hearing aids not only improve people’s hearing, but can also improve other conditions brought about by an inability to hear, such as depression, loneliness and dementia. We believe that removing free hearing aids would force people further into isolation, leading to increased need for NHS services to treat these other conditions.

Hearing-checkup at Help in Hearing

Contact us for a hearing check-up at either our Farnham Common or Marlow hearing clinics, by telephoning us on 0845 222 0579 or by completing your details on our online form. 

Click to find out more about the Action on Hearing Loss campaign to stop the cuts to NHS hearing aid services.