NCHA member update – 30 October
Latest news:
- BSA chair steps down
- Single-sided and mild deafness
- NHS consults on newborn hearing screen pathway
- Schools exceed recommended screen time
- Ears to the ground
- Health policy news
BSA chair steps down
Richard Windle has resigned as chair of the British Society of Audiology (BSA), with Helen Nuttall, the current vice-chair, stepping into the role.
The announcement follows comments about independent sector providers attributed to the outgoing chair in a response to the NICE HealthTech programme on hearing aids for adults – comments the BSA says do not reflect its position.
Members have approached the NCHA to express their concern and disappointment about these comments. We will review all member feedback and consider it in our engagement with sector partners.
Read the BSA statement.
Single-sided and mild deafness
The National Deaf Children’s Society has launched the What You See, What You Don’t campaign to raise awareness about single-sided deafness and mild hearing loss.
Its poll of 2,000 UK adults found only around a third (36%) agreed that mild deafness or hearing loss in one ear had a significant impact on a child’s daily life, while a fifth (20%) thought it had little or no impact.
These children are likely to have difficulties locating sounds, hearing clearly in noisy environments and overhearing conversations. The campaign highlights that, without the right support, this can have lifelong impacts on communication, literacy, concentration and social skills.
Read more in Clarity.
NHS consults on newborn hearing screen pathway
NHS England is consulting on proposed changes to the national Newborn Hearing Screening Programme. The NHSP would replace routine targeted follow-up appointments with a patient-initiated follow-up (PIFU) model for children identified as having a hearing loss risk factor.
The project group analysed evidence of hearing loss detection through different pathways. It said the changes would make better use of audiology capacity, allow greater flexibility for families and align with NHS Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) principles.
NHS England is seeking feedback from stakeholders through an online consultation survey open until 18 December.
Consultation documents:
- Recommendation paper link: Evaluation of the NHSP Targeted Follow-Up Pathway
- Consultation survey link: Stakeholder Consultation: Proposed Changes to the NHSP Targeted Follow-Up Pathway
Read more in Clarity.
Schools exceed recommended screen time
A group of health professionals, including audiologists, has warned that using screens for school learning (EdTech) is contributing to more child health and development problems. These include hearing loss, eye problems and speech and language delays.
In an open letter to education secretary Lucy Powell and health secretary Yvette Cooper, the Health Professionals for Safer Screens campaign group highlighted concerns about the increasing use of classroom headphones with screens.
Read more in Clarity.
Ear to the ground:
- Claire Benton handed over the presidency of the BAA to vice-president Saima Rajasingam at its conference in Liverpool yesterday. Read more.
- The BSA is seeking a new trustee to join its council and contribute to the organisation’s leadership and governance. It has extended the closing date to 30 November.
- The Academy for Healthcare Science reports that the NHS has extended the deadline for applying for an NHS Fellowship in Clinical AI to 16 November. Read more.
- New research supports using Med-El’s Adhear non-surgical, stick-on bone-conduction hearing system to manage hearing loss caused by glue ear, the Hearing Journal reports.
- Weston family agrees to buy Boots in a deal worth £6.7 billion. Read more in Clarity.
- Phonak launches latest remote mic using deep neural network (DNN) AI technology to filter out noise in different listening environments. Read more in Clarity.
- The King’s Fund has analysed what the autumn Budget means for the NHS, health and adult social care, including £190 million of new winter funding in England.
Health policy news:
Healthwatch
The Department of Health and Social Care has announced it no longer plans to abolish the patient champion Healthwatch. Yvette Cooper, the health secretary, told The Guardian that patients “need a voice in our NHS”.
MPs from across political parties had criticised the decision to wind up Healthwatch England and its 150 branches, which collect and analyse responses to patient surveys to help hold the NHS to account.
Party conference round-up
The NCHA attended the main political party conferences this year, helping keep ear and hearing care part of the health policy conversation.
Where healthcare was discussed, the parties broadly agreed that prevention, AI and delivering more care locally were crucial to improving the NHS for patients.
The Liberal Democrats set out most clearly how they would use existing high-street providers, as reported in our September member update. Meanwhile, the other parties offered little detail about who would deliver expanded community services.
Read a more detailed roundup in Clarity.
Healey extends small business rates relief
In the autumn Budget this week, the chancellor John Healey confirmed plans to increase Small Business Rate Relief for smaller high street businesses in England. This will raise the threshold for 100% relief from £12,000 to £18,000 in rateable value for qualifying retail, hospitality and leisure premises, with tapered relief extending to £21,000. The change is due to take effect from 1 April 2027.
Mr Healey said the change would take an additional 70,000 businesses out of business rates altogether. Other businesses would have their rates frozen in real terms for two years, he added.
Read more about the autumn Budget.
Consultants vote for strike action
Senior doctors in England are planning to strike for two days next month, says the British Medical Association (BMA). Consultants will walk out on 25-26 November, after the union accused the government of ignoring concerns about their workload and general wellbeing.
The BMA wants health secretary Yvette Cooper to commit to formal negotiations on pay and working conditions. Ms Cooper said she was disappointed and that a strike, as the NHS was preparing for winter, would be irresponsible.