Page 4 - Primary Care Audiology

As the Association for Primary Care Audiology Providers, we have
also called on all UK governments to address these inequalities
in access and strongly support the national drive for patient self-
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referral to NHS audiology in England, the Scottish Government’s
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ambition to put audiology services on par with primary eye care
services, and the Welsh Government’s commitment to improving
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access to audiology.
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Achieving these shared goals will help reduce pressure on GPs
and hospitals and result in accessible ear and hearing care for all.
That is why we are committed to working with sector partners,
governments and health service planners and commissioners
throughout the UK to deliver these aims for patients and the NHS:

Safe, evidence-based and high-quality audiology
care in all locations

Sustainable access to NHS primary care audiology

Services commissioned around patient and
population needs
Better utilisation of workforce, estate, capacity
and investment across primary and hospital care

Adoption of innovations in technology and care
models where this brings patient benefit and
improves efficiency
Integration of primary care audiology within wider
primary care alongside ENT departments to meet
patients’ needs, priorities and choices holistically
and cost-effectively.

4 NCHA Primary care audiology – accessible ear and hearing care for all 5