Liz Smith, Scottish Conservative MSP for Mid Scotland & Fife has called for the establishment of audiology teams in each local health board area in order to maximise the quality and efficiency of hearing services by training third sector volunteers to deliver community-based basic maintenance and support for NHS hearing aid wearers.
Speaking at Health Questions in the Scottish Parliament Liz Smith MSP called on the SNP Scottish Government to investigate establishing audiology teams and called for audiology waiting time figures also recorded with a consistent method across all of Scotland’s health boards.
Liz Smith, Scottish Conservative MSP for Mid Scotland & Fife said:
“In the event where an individual requires a hearing aid it is vital that they receive this as soon as possible to support them to continue living independently and reducing their risk of experiencing isolation.
“The picture across Scotland is very mixed when it comes to accessing specialist hearing services and I know from speaking to constituents that some have faced a considerable wait to review a hearing aid – something which could be addressed by establishing local audiology teams.
“It is estimated that 850,000 people in Scotland are deaf or have a hearing loss with 340,000 adults in Scotland who need hearing aids.
“I would like to see audiology teams established in each local health board area in order to maximise the quality and efficiency of their service by training third sector volunteers to deliver community-based basic maintenance and support for NHS hearing aid wearers, in line with the Scotland’s newly launched See Hear: A strategic framework for meeting the needs of people with a sensory impairment in Scotland.
“Action on Hearing Loss Scotland have stated that they would like to see audiology waiting time figures also recorded with a consistent method across all of Scotland’s health boards and I will be pressing this with SNP Scottish Government Ministers at the earliest opportunity.”