1-20 of 207 results for subject:Audiology
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To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps NHS England is taking to ensure integrated care boards commission high-quality audiology services for deaf children across England, in line with the 2019 guidance produced jointly with the National Deaf Children's Society.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps NHS England is taking to ensure integrated care boards commission high-quality audiology services for deaf children across England, in line with the 2019 guidance produced jointly with the National Deaf Children's Society.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many NHS audiology providers in England are subject to (i) high assurance, (ii) partial assurance and (iii) improvement support under NHS England’s national audiology improvement programme; and what assurance status applies to NHS providers delivering audiology services in...
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many NHS audiology providers in England are subject to (i) high assurance, (ii) partial assurance and (iii) improvement support under NHS England’s national audiology improvement programme; and what assurance status applies to NHS providers delivering audiology services in...
The National Audiology Improvement Collaborative, delivered by NHS Elect and commissioned by NHS England, supports audiology services to improve access, reduce waiting times, and improve patient experience and quality. It began in 2024/25 with four teams, three of which achieved significant, measured improvements in waiting times. A further eight teams were supported in 2025/26 and 20 more will join in 2026/27. Learning is being shared through webinars and conferences, and NHS Elect will publish an improvement guide later in 2026.
Data on how many audiology providers are in each rating category is currently being collected. Bognor Regis and Littlehampton are served by the Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust, whose paediatric audiology service has been rated as high assurance since the start of the programme, most recently confirmed in May 2025.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the outcome was of the NHS England Elect Audiology Improvement Collaborative; and whether he plans to publish its findings and recommendations, including data relating to NHS providers serving West Sussex.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the outcome was of the NHS England Elect Audiology Improvement Collaborative; and whether he plans to publish its findings and recommendations, including data relating to NHS providers serving West Sussex.
The National Audiology Improvement Collaborative, delivered by NHS Elect and commissioned by NHS England, supports audiology services to improve access, reduce waiting times, and improve patient experience and quality. It began in 2024/25 with four teams, three of which achieved significant, measured improvements in waiting times. A further eight teams were supported in 2025/26 and 20 more will join in 2026/27. Learning is being shared through webinars and conferences, and NHS Elect will publish an improvement guide later in 2026.
Data on how many audiology providers are in each rating category is currently being collected. Bognor Regis and Littlehampton are served by the Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust, whose paediatric audiology service has been rated as high assurance since the start of the programme, most recently confirmed in May 2025.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of a Modern Service Framework for hearing health on innovative models of audiology care, including community-based and digitally enabled services.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of a Modern Service Framework for hearing health on innovative models of audiology care, including community-based and digitally enabled services.
The Department has not made a formal assessment of the impact of a modern service framework (MSF) for hearing health on variation in access to audiology and ear wax removal services between integrated care boards (ICBs).
The Government's 10-Year Health Plan announced the development of MSFs to support more consistent, high-quality care, and to reduce unwarranted variation. After the initial wave of MSFs is complete, the National Quality Board will determine the conditions to prioritise for new MSFs as part of its work programme.
ICBs have a statutory responsibility to commission services that meet the needs of their local populations, including audiology services and, where clinically required, ear wax removal services. In exercising their functions, ICBs must have regard to reducing inequalities in access to, and outcomes from, healthcare services. Ear wax removal services should be commissioned in line with National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidance.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of a Modern Service Framework for hearing health on variation in access to (a) audiology and (b) ear wax removal services between Integrated Care Boards.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of a Modern Service Framework for hearing health on variation in access to (a) audiology and (b) ear wax removal services between Integrated Care Boards.
The Department has not made a formal assessment of the impact of a modern service framework (MSF) for hearing health on variation in access to audiology and ear wax removal services between integrated care boards (ICBs).
The Government's 10-Year Health Plan announced the development of MSFs to support more consistent, high-quality care, and to reduce unwarranted variation. After the initial wave of MSFs is complete, the National Quality Board will determine the conditions to prioritise for new MSFs as part of its work programme.
ICBs have a statutory responsibility to commission services that meet the needs of their local populations, including audiology services and, where clinically required, ear wax removal services. In exercising their functions, ICBs must have regard to reducing inequalities in access to, and outcomes from, healthcare services. Ear wax removal services should be commissioned in line with National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidance.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether NHS England has made an assessment of trends in the level of variation in referral pathways for adult audiology services in England, including referrals between community providers, NHS trusts and specialist centres.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether NHS England has made an assessment of trends in the level of variation in referral pathways for adult audiology services in England, including referrals between community providers, NHS trusts and specialist centres.
Integrated care boards are responsible for commissioning audiology services to meet the needs of their local populations, taking account of relevant national guidance and local service arrangements. Adult audiology services are delivered through a range of service models, resulting in some variation in referral pathways.
NHS England collects national activity and waiting time data for audiology services but has not undertaken a specific assessment of referral pathway variation. NHS England has established a National Audiology Improvement Collaborative which provides improvement support to audiology services to review and redesign pathways, including referral pathways, and the learning from this improvement collaborative is shared nationally.
By shifting care from hospital to community and investing in digital tools and neighbourhood health services, the 10-Year Health Plan will deliver simpler, faster, and more coordinated referral pathways, helping people access the right care at the right time.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether NHS England collects comparative data on waiting times for specialist audiology services, including tinnitus, cochlear implant, balance disorder and complex hearing loss pathways; and what the latest available waiting time data is for patients served by NHS providers...
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether NHS England collects comparative data on waiting times for specialist audiology services, including tinnitus, cochlear implant, balance disorder and complex hearing loss pathways; and what the latest available waiting time data is for patients served by NHS providers...
No assessment of the trends in the level of variation in referral pathways for adult audiology services in England has been made.
Data on waiting times for specific specialist audiology pathways such as tinnitus, cochlear implant, balance disorders, and complex hearing loss services is not held.
NHS England does, however, publish data on waiting time data for the Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) specialty which includes some audiology patients. The available data is not broken down to individual specialist audiology pathways or by constituency.
The latest published data, from April 2026, shows that patients in the NHS Surrey and Sussex Integrated Care Board, which covers West Sussex, are receiving ENT care quicker, with 57.9% of patients now waiting within 18 weeks, an increase of 6.1% on a year earlier. This data can be found at the following link:
https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/rtt-waiting-times/rtt-data-2026-27/
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has undertaken an assessment of geographical variation in access to cochlear implant assessment and treatment services in England; and what the average travel distance and travel time is for patients resident in West Sussex referred for cochlear...
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has undertaken an assessment of geographical variation in access to cochlear implant assessment and treatment services in England; and what the average travel distance and travel time is for patients resident in West Sussex referred for cochlear...
No assessment of the trends in the level of variation in referral pathways for adult audiology services in England has been made.
Data on waiting times for specific specialist audiology pathways such as tinnitus, cochlear implant, balance disorders, and complex hearing loss services is not held.
NHS England does, however, publish data on waiting time data for the Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) specialty which includes some audiology patients. The available data is not broken down to individual specialist audiology pathways or by constituency.
The latest published data, from April 2026, shows that patients in the NHS Surrey and Sussex Integrated Care Board, which covers West Sussex, are receiving ENT care quicker, with 57.9% of patients now waiting within 18 weeks, an increase of 6.1% on a year earlier. This data can be found at the following link:
https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/rtt-waiting-times/rtt-data-2026-27/
Agreed to on question.
Agreed to on question.
Let me start this debate by welcoming the Minister to her seat and to her new role, as I believe that this is her first time responding from the Front Bench. I am sure that she will be excellent, and I look forward to her response.
Doncaster has a long and...
Let me start this debate by welcoming the Minister to her seat and to her new role, as I believe that this is her first time responding from the Front Bench. I am sure that she will be excellent, and I look forward to her response.
Doncaster has a long and...
I thank my hon. Friend for bringing this debate to the House. It is not just Doncaster that is impacted by this issue, because Doncaster and Bassetlaw teaching hospitals NHS foundation trust stretches right across Bassetlaw. I have had similar experiences with my constituents; in fact, every time I have...
I thank my hon. Friend for bringing this debate to the House. It is not just Doncaster that is impacted by this issue, because Doncaster and Bassetlaw teaching hospitals NHS foundation trust stretches right across Bassetlaw. I have had similar experiences with my constituents; in fact, every time I have...
That goes to show that this is a widespread issue. This is happening not just in Doncaster, but further afield, and thousands upon thousands of people have been impacted. At one stage, the audiology service at Doncaster royal infirmary temporarily shut down. While some of the emergency cases and children’s...
That goes to show that this is a widespread issue. This is happening not just in Doncaster, but further afield, and thousands upon thousands of people have been impacted. At one stage, the audiology service at Doncaster royal infirmary temporarily shut down. While some of the emergency cases and children’s...
I agree with my hon. Friend that the audiology action day was phenomenal, and that those in the audiology services at Doncaster royal infirmary are doing everything they can to improve the service that they offer my constituents, who are their patients. I have been exploring other opportunities; for example,...
I agree with my hon. Friend that the audiology action day was phenomenal, and that those in the audiology services at Doncaster royal infirmary are doing everything they can to improve the service that they offer my constituents, who are their patients. I have been exploring other opportunities; for example,...
I completely agree with my hon. Friend. As he knows, some appointments were outsourced during this period, but if we are honest, it was not enough. The waiting list is still far too long, and too many people have been waiting four or five years, so part of our collective...
I completely agree with my hon. Friend. As he knows, some appointments were outsourced during this period, but if we are honest, it was not enough. The waiting list is still far too long, and too many people have been waiting four or five years, so part of our collective...
I am concerned about the link between loss of hearing and dementia. If somebody who is experiencing hearing loss goes down that horrible path of dementia and loss of memory, the lack of communication can spiral and make their condition explode. It becomes much more life-changing, much more quickly. Access...
I am concerned about the link between loss of hearing and dementia. If somebody who is experiencing hearing loss goes down that horrible path of dementia and loss of memory, the lack of communication can spiral and make their condition explode. It becomes much more life-changing, much more quickly. Access...
My hon. Friend is completely right. In a world in which we focus a lot on how we can treat and slow the progress of dementia and Alzheimer’s, this is something we really need to look at. That is key, and it is worrying and disappointing to us all that...
My hon. Friend is completely right. In a world in which we focus a lot on how we can treat and slow the progress of dementia and Alzheimer’s, this is something we really need to look at. That is key, and it is worrying and disappointing to us all that...
My hon. Friend the Member for Bassetlaw (Jo White) mentioned dementia. This is Dementia Action Week. The ability to hear is so important, not just for the obvious reasons, but in the broader context of dementia. This is about dignity and being able to enjoy precious moments. The Alzheimer’s Society...
My hon. Friend the Member for Bassetlaw (Jo White) mentioned dementia. This is Dementia Action Week. The ability to hear is so important, not just for the obvious reasons, but in the broader context of dementia. This is about dignity and being able to enjoy precious moments. The Alzheimer’s Society...
I completely agree with my hon. Friend. I reassure him that I will not attend the Alzheimer’s Society’s “singing for the brain” event in Cantley, as that would be devastating for everyone who had to hear it. It is important that we start to raise awareness of the knock-on effects...
I completely agree with my hon. Friend. I reassure him that I will not attend the Alzheimer’s Society’s “singing for the brain” event in Cantley, as that would be devastating for everyone who had to hear it. It is important that we start to raise awareness of the knock-on effects...
I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Doncaster Central (Sally Jameson) for securing the debate. I commend her advocacy on this issue, and thank her for all her tireless work on behalf of her constituents in bringing it to the House's attention. I also know that my hon. Friend...
I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Doncaster Central (Sally Jameson) for securing the debate. I commend her advocacy on this issue, and thank her for all her tireless work on behalf of her constituents in bringing it to the House's attention. I also know that my hon. Friend...
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when self-referral to community audiologists will be enabled on the NHS app.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when self-referral to community audiologists will be enabled on the NHS app.
The Government is committed to enabling patients to access digital health and care services to manage their health. As part of its work to support self-referral services for National Health Service patients in the musculoskeletal community, the Government is assessing how to develop these services for other communities, including those of audiologists. Work is expected to take place this financial year and will consider whether the NHS App is the best mechanism for self-referral.