11 February 2022

NCHA member update – 11 February

This week:

• Tinnitus Awareness Week
• Duty of candour
• Other sector news
• Health policy update

Tinnitus Awareness Week

It is Tinnitus Awareness Week (7-13 February), here are some key stories:

• The European Tinnitus Survey reveals nearly 15% of adults in the EU (including the UK) have tinnitus, so about 65 million people in the EU live with tinnitus. It was more common among women than men, with prevalence increasing significantly with age and degree of hearing loss. 
• A national survey conducted by Curtin University suggests around one in four workers (based on the Australian population) are suffering from constant tinnitus, with farmers, automotive workers, transport drivers, construction workers, and other tradespeople at the greatest risk. 
• Research from Sweden's Karolinska Institutet claims constant tinnitus is linked to altered brain activity. 
• A British Tinnitus Association survey reported in The Times suggests more than half a million people in Britain have had suicidal thoughts in the past two years because of tinnitus. The survey showed most sufferers were frustrated by a lack of effective treatments.  

Duty of candour

The HCPC has launched new online materials on the duty of candour. They aim to support professionals' understanding of what candour means and how it is demonstrated in practice. The materials echo the NCHA's own guidance on professional duty of candour, which members can access here.

Other sector news

A study finds some 350,000 adult Americans live with single-sided deafness, and 13 million have unilateral hearing loss.
 
The British Academy of Audiology has launched bookings for its BAA Careers Week webinars from 28 February to 4 March. Audiologists will share insights on career opportunities available in UK Audiology.
 
Correction: Rebecca Mansell has been appointed as the new chief executive officer of the British Deaf Association.

Health policy update

England
 
With hearing issues attracting more political attention, Parliament is looking at a bill that, if it becomes law, would make British Sign Language an official language in England, Wales, and Scotland. See our news update earlier this week.
 
The government has published an Integration white paper linking NHS and social care systems to ensure that "everyone gets the right care at the right time, in the right place". The reforms will hope to ensure:

• People have more control and choice over their care
• Closer working between primary, community and hospital services so people receive better treatment closer to home
• Earlier intervention and support, helping people access the right services at the right time, which could prevent conditions from progressing.

DHSC consultation - England
 
DHSC has launched a consultation on removing vaccination as a condition of deployment for health and social care staff. Following the announcement, the HCPC issued a statement encouraging vaccination (except for those who are medically exempt).
 
New consultation: fixed recoverable costs in lower value clinical negligence claims
 
The DHSC has launched a consultation about limiting the amount of legal costs claimant lawyers can recover in lower value clinical negligence claims.
The proposals would only affect the amount of legal costs that claimant lawyers can recover following a successful claim, not the compensation that a claimant could receive.
 
The NCHA policy team will be reviewing and may respond to this consultation. If you would like to take part, please email [email protected].
 
Scotland
 
National Care Service
 
The Scottish government has now published responses it received on its consultation on the National Care Service. 
 
The government said that many responses were from individuals and that in general, respondents supported the proposals. However, it added: "responses also helpfully highlight the risks that will emerge from such significant change, but the main theme is that change is needed, and it is needed now, as well as in the longer term."
 
BMA Scotland said it was "deeply concerned about the proposals to have Community Health and Social Care Boards (CHSCBs) manage GPs' contractual arrangements. This proposal fails to understand the close and interlinked relationship between primary and secondary care and any moves to fragment this would not only risk altering the role and function of the GP, but the proposals may lead to poorer outcomes for those patients who require healthcare."
 
The NCHA policy team continues to monitor developments on members' behalf.