Anger as drop-in service for hearing-aid repairs withdrawn
new system introduced by health board
Published: 12/01/2010
SCOTTISH Tories have condemned a decision by Highland health chiefs to axe a drop-in service for people needing hearing-aid repairs.
It emerged yesterday that the audiology facility at Raigmore Hospital, Inverness, was withdrawn at the end of 2009.
Users are now told to post faulty hearing aids to the hospital’s audiology department in Old Perth Road, and to phone for appointments for any other service on 01463 704 406/407/039 or typetalk number 01463 704 042 01463 704 042.
Conservative health spokeswoman Mary Scanlon was angry that a “quick and efficient” drop-in facility had been withdrawn.
“Patients will now have to wait for an appointment and then wait while their hearing aid is repaired without any knowledge of when it will be returned,” she said.
“I have been contacted by constituents who are anxious and unsure about how this will affect them day to day. It is clear this facility is highly utilised and this decision is ultimately at the cost to patients.”
Mrs Scanlon has written to NHS Highland chairman Garry Coutts asking why the decision was taken and asking him to explain whether it would bring any benefits to patients.
A spokeswoman for the health board said demand for the drop-in clinic was “unpredictable”, ranging from no patients to being “very busy” when there could be a long wait for something considered simple to fix.
“It was felt the quality of service could be better.
“The audiology services working group, which has patient representation, devised a new system where the patient will phone in – or text – when they have a problem with their hearing aid and they will be given a time to attend that is suitable for them, either on that day or the day after.”
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