12 February 2021

Member update – 12 February 2021

In this week's news

• Get ready for changes to member updates
• Vaccine update
• NHS reforms announced
• College publishes new guidance on examining patients with hearing loss
• BAA IPC consultation
• Take part in research on hearing aid maintenance and replacement
• Other sector news

Get ready for changes to member updates

We will shortly be switching our e-newsletter platform. To ensure you get these new updates, please add [email protected] to your contacts. We plan to make the transition at the end of February.

The new platform will allow us to upgrade and tailor news content in the future, ensuring you continue to stay up to date on what matters.

Vaccine update

Following our detailed vaccination updates in recent weeks, we continue to support members and the wider sector get access to local contacts so they can arrange Covid-19 vaccinations for audiology teams. Please continue to email us with details about where your practice(s) are based so that we can include you on any local developments.

NHS reforms announced

This week, the Department of Health and Social (DHSC) published legislative proposals for a Health and Care Bill. The white paper is Integration and Innovation: working together to improve health and social care for all.

Proposed reforms cover significant changes to procurement regulations and competition rules in England and provisions to review professional regulation across the UK.

In a follow-up to the white paper, NHS England has launched consultation changes to procurement regulations, setting out plans for a new NHS provider selection regime. The NCHA policy team is analysing proposals on behalf of members and the wider sector. We will also discuss these policy developments with sector partners at the next Hearing Loss and Deafness Alliance meeting.

The DHSC plans to work with devolved administrations and consult on proposals to increase flexibility in professional regulation, which would make it easier for lawmakers to remove professions from regulation and merge or close regulatory bodies. There are plans to consult on these proposals soon. The NCHA will update members on the consultation and potential impacts on the sector, if any.

Members who have questions about these reforms, or want to participate in our response to the NHS provider selection regime consultation, can contact us by emailing [email protected].

College publishes new guidance on examining patients with hearing loss

The College of Optometrists published new professional guidance on examining patients who have hearing loss. The guidance will be open to all and helps opticians across the UK improve communication with people who have a hearing loss. Each year there are over 21 million sight tests performed in the UK, so raising awareness of hearing loss across this workforce will benefit many patients.

BAA IPC consultation

The BAA Service Quality Committee is consulting on Infection Prevention and Control Practices and Processes in Audiology. The BAA said the document is for all audiology staff. Send your feedback using the consultation form to [email protected] by 26 February.

Take part in research on hearing aid maintenance and replacement

An MSc project at the School of Audiology at Queen Margaret University in Edinburgh investigates how clinics in the UK manage lost hearing aids and serial hearing aid replacements. Learn more and take part.

Other sector news

• Deaf patients may face difficulties in healthcare access
• Demant optimistic about demand in 2021
• AEA launch European Parliament engagement event, Hearing care for all