Hearing aid cuts abandoned

Action on Hearing Loss welcomes the decision made by four Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs)(external website, opens in new window)in Staffordshire to drop their proposals to cut hearing aid provision for people who have mild to moderate hearing loss. The charity continues its campaign to overturn the unprecedented decision by the North Staffordshire CCG to ration hearing aids for most people which became effective in October 2015.

NHS Cannock Chase CCG, East Staffordshire CCG, Stafford and Surrounds CCG and South East Staffordshire and Seisdon and Peninsular CCG initially announced plans to cut hearing aids in September 2015. The proposal was denounced by Action on Hearing Loss along with the audiology community, local deaf groups and people with a hearing loss themselves.

Action on Hearing Loss Chief Executive, Paul Breckell, said: 'We are relieved that these four Staffordshire CCGs have reacted to public sentiment and the evidence we have presented by scrapping their plans to restrict hearing aid provision for people with mild to moderate hearing loss. We will continue to work with the CCGs to help ensure that hearing aids are safeguarded for local people who need them in Staffordshire.

'North Staffordshire CCG have already made the decision to cut hearing aids for people with mild to moderate hearing loss - making them the first health group to do so since the inception of the NHS and creating a postcode lottery of hearing aid provision in the area. We call on North Staffordshire CCG to follow the neighbouring CCGs by taking into account the evidence and local opposition, and reversing their unjustifiable hearing aid cuts.

'We remain concerned that other CCGs in England are considering cuts to hearing aid provision and we call on all those who are doing so to follow the precedent set by the South Staffordshire CCGs and await the publication of national Commissioning Guidance on hearing loss, due in April this year. We will continue to work with CCGs across England to ensure they understand the true value of hearing aids, which people with a hearing loss tell us are a lifeline.'

Contact for general media enquiries:

Gorki Duhra, Senior PR Officer at Action on Hearing Loss, telephone: 020 7296 8057 / 07944 038635 or email gorki.duhra@hearingloss.org.uk, @HearingLossPR

Notes to editors:

1. Commissioning Guidance which NHS England have committed to when they launched their Action Plan on Hearing Loss (external website, opens new window) is due to be launched in April 2016.
2. Action on Hearing Loss helps people to confront deafness, tinnitus and hearing loss to live the life they choose. Action on Hearing Loss enables them to take control of their lives and remove the barriers in their way. Action on Hearing Loss gives people support and care, develop technology and treatments, and campaign for equality.