5 August 2019
North Ayrshire Councillor Timothy Billings is encouraging his constituents to use a charity’s life-enhancing hearing aid support service in Arran.
Councillor Billings visited Action on Hearing Loss Scotland’s monthly drop-in session in Arran Library to see coordinator, Fiona Goodwin, and volunteers, Kirsty Forsyth, Isabel Davie and Susan McNicol, support people with hearing loss who would otherwise need to go to the audiology department at Crosshouse Hospital.
The volunteers have been trained by NHS Ayrshire & Arran audiology to clean and re-tube NHS hearing aids and inducted by the charity to provide information about assistive equipment such as amplified phones, TV listeners and vibrating/flashing alarms which can make everyday life easier for people with hearing loss.
The service, which is funded by the North, East and South Ayrshire health and social care partnerships, supports more than 100 islanders and in excess of 1,000 people throughout North Ayrshire communities each year.
Councillor Timothy Billings said: “I was delighted to speak with Fiona, Kirsty, Isabel and Susan and see the vital support the community hearing support service provides on Arran by helping people to understand how to operate the functions on their NHS hearing aids as well as the importance of cleaning or replacing the tubing so that their devices work more effectively.
“I encourage all islanders who experience difficulties with their hearing aids to attend Action on Hearing Loss Scotland’s monthly drop-in sessions and get the help that may be needed to hear family and friends more clearly.”
Action on Hearing Loss Scotland’s Fiona Goodwin said: “We thank Councillor Billings for visiting our service on Arran which we run on a drop-in basis so you don’t need an appointment to be supported by our volunteers.
“If your NHS hearing aids aren’t working as well as you hoped or you’ve got them lying in a drawer, pop in to see us at our monthly sessions in the library or Shiskine Surgery and we’ll try our best to get them working again for you!”
Notes to editors
RNID is the national charity helping people living with deafness, tinnitus and hearing loss to live the life they choose. RNID enables them to take control of their lives and remove the barriers in their way, giving people support and care, developing technology and treatments, and campaigning for equality.