27 June 2025

NCHA member update – 27 June

This month:

• Hearing aid sales continue upward trend
• Audiologists survey reveals urgent need for hearing care reform
• Ear and hearing care waits remain high despite turning tide
• Routine hearing care ‘reduces likelihood of falls'
• Some ICBs ‘behind schedule' on child hearing test recalls
• High street chain expands ear wax removal service
• Care England demands more support for hearing
• Demant to enlarge hearing care footprint
• Ear to the ground
• Health policy news

Hearing aid sales continue upward trend

The British Irish Hearing Instrument Manufacturers Association (BIHIMA) has published its latest quarterly report of hearing aid sales the UK and the Republic of Ireland.

The figures show the sector continuing the recovery shown at the end of 2024, with a robust rise in sales, particularly for NHS out of hospital provision.  Read more.

Audiologists survey reveals urgent need for hearing care reform

BIHIMA's annual survey of audiologists shows that professionals are feeling the pressure, wherever they work.
 
This year's survey takes a snapshot of hearing care in the UK, looking at the challenges and priorities within the profession. Key concerns include escalating NHS waiting times, staffing shortages, limited access to care, and confusion about types of provision in various parts of the country. Read more.

Ear and hearing care waits remain high despite turning tide

The latest waiting times for NHS diagnostic activity show a 0.2% rise in the number of people waiting for audiology appointments, with 41.7% of patients waiting six weeks or more for their assessment. 
 
ENT departments see only half of patients within the 18-week target, with 638,914 incomplete pathways and the second-worst performing consultant-led elective care service after oral surgery. Read more.

Routine hearing care 'reduces likelihood of falls'

A new analysis of the Aging and Cognitive Health Evaluation in Elders (ACHIEVE) study has found a link between hearing intervention and fewer falls in older people. It adds to the growing body of evidence on the benefits of hearing intervention for ageing well.
 
A team from Edinburgh Napier University analysed data from the ACHIEVE randomised controlled trial, which looked at the effect of hearing intervention on cognitive decline. They found that people in the 'hearing intervention' group had a 27% reduction in the mean number of falls over three years compared to the control group, which received general health support. Read the study.

Some ICBs 'behind schedule' on child hearing test recalls

NHS England has written to the leaders of integrated care boards to ensure they fulfil their obligations to recall and reassess children under the paediatric audiology improvement programme it established.
 
In its letter, NHS England says that despite strong progress, some ICBs remain "behind schedule". It asks the boards to fill in a form updating NHS England on their progress "to accelerate the review and recall process". Read more.

High-street chain expands ear wax removal service

The health and beauty retailer Superdrug now offers its new Ear Wax Removal Service in 18 more shops across the UK. The expansion comes in response to growing demand after many GPs stopped offering the NHS-funded service. Read more.

Care England demands more support for hearing

The charity Care England has published a white paper calling for urgent action and offering practical solutions. The actions include improved acoustics, staff training and hearing aid maintenance to address "widespread neglect" of residents with hearing loss. Read more.

Demant to enlarge hearing care footprint

Danish hearing aid manufacturer Demant has agreed to buy the Germany company KIND for €700 million, making it Germany's market leader. Read more.

Ear to the ground

• DeafblindUK marks awareness week with insights into what it is like to live with dual sensory loss. Read more.
• Audiologists give their top tips on ear and hearing protection, The Guardian reports.
• The National Deaf Children's Society has announced that George Crockford will join from the Teenage Cancer Trust to replace Susan Daniels as its chief executive.
• Tinnitus UK has announced new board members. Pierre Espinasse, former chief executive of a medical research funding foundation, becomes chair of the board.
• The British Society of Audiology has renamed its recommendations for paediatric OAE testing as guidance rather than recommended procedure while it is under review.
• The Specsavers founder Douglas Perkins has been made CBE in the King's Birthday Honours. Read more.
• Study finds AI screening tool can detect signs of Parkinson's from subtle changes in the smell of ear wax, Science Daily reports.
• The V&A museum in London showcases jewellery that brings hearing aids to life. Read more.

Health policy news

HSJ hints at content of government's 10-year plan

The HSJ reported that it had seen a draft of the upcoming 10-year plan for the NHS which it said would "radically reform the role and governance of foundation trusts and integrated care boards" with the Department of Health and Social Care seeking to authorise the first new FTs in 2026.

The journal also said that the draft plan indicated the government's desire to improve the "plurality" of providers serving NHS patients. ICBs would be able to strengthen their provider market by using competition where appropriate. It quoted the plan as saying that ICBs should seek to procure "neighbourhood health services" from a wide range of NHS and non-NHS providers, increasing healthcare in more deprived areas by seeking greater private sector involvement. Read more.

NHS leader cites primary care as one way to cut long waits

The NHS Confederation has given its strongest support yet for the remodelling of outpatient services, citing independent service providers as successful existing services that could be used to reduce hospital waiting lists. The organisation also pointed to the potential of providing more NHS audiology care closer to home.

In a keynote speech to the NHS ConfedExpo conference in Manchester, chief executive Matthew Taylor said hospitals and GPs would have to form partnerships in the community because public spending was not in itself enough to meet the rising demand for elective care. Read more.

At the same conference, NHS England's chief executive Jim Mackey talked about "tearing up the model of care" for outpatients to help tackle record levels of public dissatisfaction with the NHS. He described the NHS as "over-prescriptive" and too hierarchical. He said it had lost its way a bit "on quality" and needed to focus on that again. Read more.

Spending review targets GPs and acute care

Earlier in the month, primary eye care and audiology responded to the government's spending review with a call to rebalance NHS funding by investing in wider services.  While the NHS was one of the big winners, funding seemed to be targeted at reducing hospital waiting times by investing more in GP and dental services, with no clear signs of investment in wider primary care services. Read more.