On Thu, 10 Oct 2013 20:57:47 +0100
Clive Page wrote:

On 10/10/2013 19:20, Peter Crosland wrote:
A lot of shysters around. Get her referred by her GP to the local
audiology service. The NHS ones are quite good these days.

Yes, but getting one seems to take time, at least in some areas. A
couple of years ago an elderly relative of mine found it took about 6
months from GP referral to actually getting a test at the local
hospital, and then another month or so before the hearing aid was
ready.

But just the other day I got a flyer from Messrs Specsavers saying
that they were now approved to do hearing tests and to prescribe
hearing aids on the NHS. I don't know how this works, but presumably
you just get your GP to refer you to the nearest branch. I assume
their service would be much faster. I've tried their eye-testing
and specs-prescribing service and can't say that I'm particularly
enthusiastic about them, but as a way of avoid a wait of many months
it seems worth giving it a go.

As others have said, the second hurdle is getting the elderly person
to actually wear the darned thing. That may take a few months, too.



A year ago, during a visit to Specsavers for eye test and glasses, I
saw that they also did hearing test, so I booked one, for about two
weeks later. They didn't say anything then about prescribing NHS aids,
but the service was quick.

--
Davey.