‘Simply not good enough’... health trust has nearly 900 people with hearing problems on waiting list
ALMOST 900 adults with hearing difficulties are on the waiting list for audiology appointments in the Northern Health Trust area.
Some 21 patients have been waiting more than 21 weeks for an appointment — with the longest waiting time being 172 days.
According to John Dallat MLA — who revealed that a total of 885 patients over the age of 18 are on the waiting list with hearing difficulties within the Northern Trust — that is “simply not good enough”.
He said: “The Audiology Service operated by the Northern Health Trust and based in Ballymena provides an excellent service to patients and is in very high demand.
“However, it is concerning that the waiting list is as high as it is.
“Audiology is an important element of the health service and should be open and assessable to all people without delay.
“The number on the waiting list is alarmingly high and 21 weeks is too long a wait for an appointment where the outcome would hopefully be an improvement in the ability of people to hear and participate in conversation with others.
“This is true of the high number of people still of working age but equally true of older people who should not be consigned to a world of silence and the absence of conversation.”
The SDLP man added that the service is being let down by the ongoing impasse at Stormont.
“Audiology, like many other services, should have the attention of a functioning Assembly,” he said.
“It will remain another unrepresented issue while the priorities lie elsewhere.”
The figures prompted leading charity Action on Hearing Loss NI to call on the Department of Health to address the situation “as a matter of urgency”.
The charity’s Northern Ireland Director Jackie White said: “It is important that people with hearing loss are assessed and treated swiftly as evidence shows that the earlier a hearing aid is fitted, the more benefits it can bring.
“We call on the Department of Health to address lengthy waiting times for audiology and ENT (ear, nose and throat) services as
a matter of urgency.” The Northern Trust admitted it was aware of the increase in demand for the services.
However, it said that a programme of recruitment is currently under way to address the situation.
A spokesperson added that taking on extra responsibility from the Education Authority to oversee the paediatric audiology service had added to waiting times across the board.
The spokesperson said: “In April 2018 the NHSCT accepted a transfer from the Education Authority of their paediatric audiology service.
“This resulted in an increased demand, which has lengthened the waiting time for patients.
“The Trust is progressing recruitment of additional audiology staff and additional audiology clinics are being held until the end of December to bring the waiting time back within target to nine weeks.”