23.10.12
Audiology services suffer cuts
NHS hearing services are being cut, new research suggests. Action on Hearing Loss found that over 40% of hospitals with audiology units had seen cuts in the past 18 months.
The NHS is currently working to achieve £20bn in efficiency savings.
The cuts were revealed in freedom of information requests from 128 hospitals. The research also showed evidence of rises in waiting times, reductions in follow-up care and a lack of specialist staff.
Action on Hearing Loss chief executive Paul Breckell said: “People with hearing loss have the right to expect the very best local services, so it's concerning that so many audiology departments have already felt the impact of budget cuts.
“Making savings from hearing service cuts right now is a false economy because it will only lead to higher NHS and social care costs to support people with untreated loss in the long run.”
Health minister Lord Howe said: “It is important that patients get high quality audiology services.
“We are working with stakeholders, including Action on Hearing Loss, to set out what needs to be done in the future to improve results for hearing loss in adults and children.”
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