29 August 2025

NCHA member update - 29 August

Latest news:

• Open letter attacks ‘slow progress' on Scottish audiology recommendations
• New guides for ENT ‘to improve referral quality' in England
• BAA publishes audiology scope of practice document
• NHS Wales publishes audiology framework
• Study supports early hearing intervention
• Ear to the ground
• Health policy

Open letter attacks 'slow progress' on Scottish audiology recommendations

The NDCS and RNID have written to Jenni Minto, Scotland's public health minister, criticising the lack of progress since the Independent Review of Audiology Services in Scotland identified systemic problems in NHS audiology services in 2023. Social Care Alliance Scotland and the BAA are signatories.

The NCHA has responded to the letter, stating that it fails to consider primary care audiology as one of the potential ways to help cut waiting lists by freeing up hospital capacity for children's services and adults who require medical treatment. The Scottish Government has yet to establish an NHS-funded primary care audiology service despite an SNP manifesto commitment in 2021.

New guides for ENT 'to improve referral quality' in England

The NHS initiative Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) in England has produced two new ENT guides to support the development of local patient referral guidelines for adults and children from primary care. The best practice guidelines offer a structured approach to managing some of the most common ENT conditions, including tinnitus and earwax, and are aimed at supporting clinicians in improving referral quality and enhancing coordination.

The guidelines aim to promote evidence-based assessment and management, reduce unwarranted variation in referrals and shorten waiting times for treatment. Referral-to-treatment waiting times for ENT services are consistently among the longest of any speciality. Read more.

BAA publishes audiology scope of practice document

The British Academy of Audiology has published a scope of practice for audiology professionals, defining clinical and professional capabilities and expectations of audiologists in practice. It also links career levels to capabilities.

The document aims to consolidate the various training routes and workplaces for hearing aid dispensers, audiologists and clinical scientists. It includes case studies for each job role, describing training routes and responsibilities. Read the document.

NHS Wales publishes audiology framework

NHS Wales has published a new healthcare science career framework to help strengthen education and training.

The guide explains the various job roles and career pathways in healthcare science, including audiology. Launching the document, Healthcare Education and Improvement Wales (HEIW) said it would "promote awareness, accessibility, and progression within the healthcare science profession". Read more.

Study supports early hearing intervention

A new study in JAMA Neurology has reported that hearing aid use before the age of 70 is associated with a lower risk of dementia.

Participants with hearing loss who used hearing aids showed a reduced risk of dementia among those younger than 70 at the time of hearing evaluation, when followed up for up to 20 years.

The study was unable to capture how often participants used their hearing aids or control for socioeconomic status beyond education. Read more.

Ear to the ground

• RNID advises people with hearing aids on how to protect their hearing from emergency alerts as the government announces a new test on 7 September.
• Registration is now open for the British Academy of Audiology Annual Conference, taking place on 20-21 November at the Telford International Centre.
• The Independent reports on five over-the-counter and prescription medicines that could be harmful to hearing. Read more.
• A genome-wide association study (GWAS) has identified 44 significant gene locations, 34 of them novel, in people who reported hearing difficulties. Read more.
• A mother recalls how an audiologist helped her come to terms with her child's hearing loss, The Guardian reports.

Health policy

Primary care services central to success of health plan for England

The NHS Confederation discusses the central role of primary care in an in-depth analysis of the 10 Year Health Plan's vision for a neighbourhood health service and what is needed to make it a success.

"Community optometrists and audiologists can help identify conditions such as glaucoma, macular degeneration, hearing loss and signs of systemic disease, such as diabetes and hypertension. There is evidence from those areas where community optometry and audiology are commissioned of a reduction in demand on other parts of the system," it says. "By working in partnership with other health and care providers they can support independence, communication and quality of life - particularly for the elderly." Read more.

Streeting and drug firms fail to reach pricing agreement

Wes Streeting, the health secretary, and pharmaceutical companies were unable to reach an agreement on changes to the medicine payment scheme. Mr Streeting accused them of being "shortsighted" and said he would not allow them to "rip off" the health service. 

The review was to address payment rates, which require pharmaceutical companies to pay a set proportion of their revenue from sales of branded medicines to the NHS. The Guardian looks in detail at the disagreement.