Adult Audiology Services - FOI Response Register

FoI Number
2024-351
Subject
Adult Audiology Services
Date Received
03/10/2024
Request and Response

The questions refer to the time period of 2023-2024, with the exception of Question 12 referring to 2015-present. All questions refer to the Quality Standards for Adult Hearing Rehabilitation Services.

  1. How many qualified audiologists are employed? (Please include audiologists and clinical scientists)

2023 = 1, 2024 = 1

  1. How many non-qualified audiologists are employed? (Include only those that are paid and directly support audiologists e.g., technicians that provide hearing aid repairs. Exclude volunteer and administrative support)

N/A

  1. What % of patients that are referred to adult audiology services for a hearing assessment are referred from ENT and what % are referred directly from their GP? 

NHS Shetland do not record when an incoming referral is triaged to other another speciality. However we can answer how many Audiology patients are redirected to ENT. There were 15 patients referred to ENT.

  1. How many adult hearing assessments were performed in 2023/24?  162
  2. How many adults were fitted with hearing aids in 2023/24? And how many were new patients?   78
  3. What is the local bilateral fitting rate? (Please state the actual percentage – i.e. an explanation is not required).   NHS Shetland do not record this data.
  4. After fitting a hearing aid, what are the average wait times for a follow up appointment?

8.3 weeks

  1. After the initial hearing aid fitting, on average how long does a patient wait for a reassessment?

3 years, as per Government guidelines

  1. Please list all locations that provide adult hearing services and what services are provided at each location.

The Gilbert Bain Hospital – hearing tests, tinnitus management, ENT audios, heating aid fitting and hearing aid repairs.

  1. How much was spent on adult audiology in 2023/24? If you cannot provide the adult audiology spend, please provide the total cost of the audiology service in 2023/24 and specify whether it is the total or adults only.

£139,182 in total

  1. What is the average time a patient waits to receive their hearing aid(s) after referral from their GP?

20 weeks

  1. For each year from 2015 to present, please list the audiology service self-assessment scores for each of the nine quality standards

In accordance with FOISA s 17(1), NHS Shetland confirms that it does not hold the information requested.  There is currently no Audiologist in post at NHS Shetland.