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About us

We are the association for primary care audiology providers in the UK. We exist to improve ear and hearing care for all and work with the NHS, health and social care bodies and policymakers to make this happen.

Our mission – better hearing care for all

Our goals are to work with partners to achieve better ear and hearing care for all by:

  • Ensuring everyone has access to primary care audiology in the same way as to GPs, dentistry, opticians and pharmacies based on personal choice
  • Make sure ear and hearing care is recognised as a public health priority
  • Breaking down barriers between primary, community and secondary care for the benefit of patients 
  • Supporting effective regulation of ear and hearing care services
  • Ensuring we have the workforce, infrastructure and funding models to deliver excellence in hearing care for all.

Read our position statements.

How we work

The scale of our membership and our evidence-based approach to clinical, regulatory and health funding issues make us one of the most influential sector organisations. We partner with a wide range of stakeholders to improve services and hearing outcomes for individuals and communities. 

More about us

We are a not-for-profit membership and health policy organisation. We help individual, local, regional and national hearing providers to meet the country’s ear and hearing care needs. In addition, we support members with medical malpractice insurance, legal defence and advice and guidance on issues that affect hearing practices in the UK.

Our members advocate for ear and hearing care for all in their local communities and, through the NCHA, nationally.The National Community Hearing Association (NCHA) is the professional representative body for community hearing care providers in the UK. The NCHA and its members are committed to better hearing care for all.

 

NCHA Executive Team

Harjit Sandhu
Managing Director

Harjit is a health policy expert with special interests in health economics and health systems and brings a wide range of analytical, clinical and public health skills to his role.

David Hewlett
Director

David is a health analyst, policymaker and strategist with over 25 years' experience at a senior level in Whitehall at the Departments of Health & Social Security.

Alan Tinger
Regulatory Affairs

Alan leads on regulatory affairs, including professional liability, legal defence, regulation, finance and taxation. He is a chartered accountant and a Companion of the Chartered Management Institute.

Head office team

Membership and support

Giusy Maniscalchi

PA to Harjit Sandhu

With over 10 years' administrative experience, Giusy takes pride in providing the highest quality admin support to the managing director as well as the Membership team and Finance.

Sue Silvester
PA to David Hewlett

Sue is an experienced PA, working for a visual impairment charity for more than 20 years before joining FODO Group in June 2018. When not at work, she loves spending time with family.

Rajan Verma
Insurance and Membership Officer

Rajan is the go-to person for members to gain advice and information on claims, cases, local level complaints and other matters, including GDPR queries.

Emily McCabe
Hearing health policy officer

Emily is a qualified audiologist and registered hearing aid dispenser, with an MSc from the University of Manchester. She has practiced in both the NHS and independent sector before moving to a policy role within the NCHA. She has special interest in clinical standards and making hearing services accessible for all.

Hannah Williams
Health Policy officer

Hannah is an experienced clinical audiologist who currently works with children. She has a background in journalism and research. She is keen for hearing health care to adapt to the demands of the population it serves.

Legal defence partnership

We work in partnership with our independent lawyers, Clyde & Co and their dedicated Healthcare Regulatory team for the NCHA.

Employment law partnership

We work in partnership with WorkNest to provide our members with employment law and health and safety support.

Laura Chalkley
Solicitor

Laura is our employment law lead at WorkNest. Laura qualified as a solicitor in 2008 and specialises in advising SMEs and larger multi-site providers on employment law issues in healthcare and the charity sector. She is a member of the Employment Law Association and Solicitors Regulation Authority.

Our Board

Peter Ormerod, Chair (2018 - present)

Mark Georgevic, Non-Executive Director (Chair 2013-2018),Solicitor and Group Legal Director at Scrivens Opticians and Hearing Care

Richard Boyd, Non-Executive Director,Managing Director at Hidden Hearing

Paula Cave, Non-Executive Director, Audiology at Outside Clinic

Echo Lu, Non-Executive Director, Managing Director at Boots Hearingcare

Stephen McAndrew, Non-Executive Director, Director of NHS Services at Specsavers Hearingcare

Francesco Turriziani, Non-Executive Director, General Manager at Amplifon UK

Harjit Sandhu, Managing Director NCHA

David Hewlett, Group Director NCHA

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The National Community Hearing Association (NCHA) is part of the FODO Group. We also support eye care providers in the UK and Ireland.

Job opportunities

To join our mailing list for jobs at the NCHA, please email [email protected]