Our research note shares insights from NHS hearing aid wearers and their experiences of NHS hearing aid services.
The results outline potential variation in hearing technology across NHS hearing aid providers and highlight concerns that some NHS hearing aid patients are being encouraged to purchase private hearing aids by their NHS provider.
The results also highlight issues accessing self-referral into hearing services.
Overview
Most people who access hearing healthcare in the UK do so via the NHS, and hearing aids are free at the point of use for all who need them. RNID is aware of recent concerns about variation in access to NHS hearing aid services and in hearing aid quality.
We carried out a short survey with our communities to gain greater understanding of their experiences.
The findings indicate the need for:
- Further research to understand consistency of high-quality hearing aid provision
- Implementation of national quality standards and assurance across audiology providers
- Increasing access to self-referral and improving awareness of existing routes
Investigating Variation in NHS Hearing Aid Services: A Research Note (2024)
Project background
Earlier this year, RNID noticed more people were contacting us with questions about hearing aid technology available on the NHS.
Some were concerned that they couldn’t access hearing aids with Bluetooth, or didn’t understand why some areas seemed to provide ‘better quality’ hearing aids than others.
In addition, RNID have received information that some hearing aid providers in England (who deliver both NHS and private hearing aid services) could be encouraging the purchase of private hearing aids during NHS appointments.
This conflicts with the principles of NHS hearing aid provision and guidance for commissioners when determining adult hearing aid contracts (Department for Health 2011).
RNID is alarmed by these concerns, which could indicate a potential postcode lottery of hearing aid technology. This could also mean some NHS patients have to buy private hearing aids to access essential features.
NHS patients should not feel that they have to pay to ‘upgrade’ their hearing aids. Especially when many of these features are supplied as standard on the NHS across the UK (for example telecoil or Bluetooth).
To understand these reports further, RNID asked our communities about their recent experiences of NHS hearing aid services.
For more information please get in touch with RNID Audiology Manager, Franki Oliver.