07 January 2025

NCHA responds to government announcement on greater choice and control for NHS patients

As the association for primary care audiology providers, we fully support the government's commitment to give NHS patients more choice and control. We also welcome plans to shift more ear and hearing care out of hospitals and into the community.

These are key steps to delivering the government's goals for the NHS in England - shifting care from hospital to community, analogue to digital and sickness to prevention.

Harjit Sandhu, NCHA chief executive, said: "ENT departments are struggling to meet needs in a sustainable way, with the number of patients waiting for more than 18 weeks increasing each month. Patients are also suffering long waits for hospital-based diagnostic tests. 

"This is why we have called for an NHS funded primary care audiology service and for the NHS to extend patient choice in the NHS Constitution to include non-consultant led audiology services. This will put patients back in control of their own care."

Jenny Lincoln, NCHA head of policy, said: "We fully support extending patients' right to choose how they access NHS care. This is critical for patients of ear and hearing care, who currently face a postcode lottery of how and when they can access their care.

"We are also encouraged that the government has recognised that almost 1 in 3 ENT hospital referrals can in fact be provided in the community. With ear and hearing needs set to grow as our population ages, the government must now take the crucial next step of rolling out an NHS funded primary care audiology service nationwide. This is the only way to deliver on the Secretary of State's vision to put patients in the driving seat and treat them on time."

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Notes for Editors

This press release is NCHA's response to three government announcements on 6 January 2025:

1. Power to patients as government sets out plan to cut waiting lists https://www.gov.uk/government/news/power-to-patient-as-government-sets-out-plan-to-cut-waiting-lists
2. Deal between NHS and independent sector to cut NHS waiting lists https://www.gov.uk/government/news/deal-between-nhs-and-independent-sector-to-cut-nhs-waiting-lists
3. PM sets out plan to end waiting list backlogs through millions more appointments  - https://www.gov.uk/government/news/pm-sets-out-plan-to-end-waiting-list-backlogs-through-millions-more-appointments

About us

NCHA is the association for primary care audiology providers. Our members deliver more than 70% of primary care audiology and most out of hospital NHS audiology in England. We exist to improve ear and hearing care for all. We are also proud members of the Hearing Loss and Deafness Alliance, made up of 29 organisations spanning the voluntary and independent sectors and professionals working in the NHS.  


Contact us 

Email: [email protected]  
Telephone: 020 7298 5110