Page 13 - Primary Care Audiology

This can only be achieved through the rollout of an NHS primary care
audiology service, as the hospital-based model of audiology cannot meet all
adult hearing needs in isolation, and the population cannot afford a repeat
of historical NHS systems failures based on the same underlying causes.
30
Given the growing but avoidable burden of disease associated with
adult hearing loss and the ethical duty to provide interventions of proven
efficacy, the NHS must now stop accepting temporary patches which
are not working and address the need for deep-rooted and system-wide
service remodelling.

As in other clinical areas, a powerful means of driving change, will be by
embedding patient empowerment in the NHS pathway and maximising the
use of the infrastructure, workforce and diagnostic equipment that is already
available in primary care audiology to meet patient needs and choices.

Improving access to NHS-funded primary care audiology services should
include ensuring that people with an ear or hearing concern who cannot
leave home through physical or mental illness or disability have the right
to access NHS ear and hearing care based on their clinical needs on a
domiciliary basis.

Primary care audiology already offers

More than Universally
2,500 accessible care
primary care at home for those
audiology locations who need it

More than
4,000 Short waits

audiologists and and ongoing support
assistant audiologists on demand

Endnote 31

Primary care audiology – accessible ear and hearing care for all 13