Stevenson Backs RNID Scotland's Call For Audiology Waiting Times To Be Measured And Published

Banff & Buchan SNP MSP Stewart Stevenson, has pledged to support RNID Scotland, the national charity representing Scotland's 758,000 deaf and hard of hearing people, in its call for the Scottish Executive to start measuring and publishing audiology waiting times by the end of 2007.

Waiting times for audiology services are not currently counted in Scotland. It is impossible to tell whether NHS Board areas are meeting the Executive's target of 26 weeks for a person to be referred by their GP for a hearing assessment to actually getting a hearing aid fitted.

Adding his voice to RNID Scotland's call for audiology waiting times to be measured and published, Mr Stevenson said:

"I am happy to back any initiative which will speed up the waiting times for people who require hearing aids.

"I know from my mailbag and constituency surgeries that this is an important issue to a lot of people and I applaud RNID Scotland for this initiative."

RNID Scotland Director, Delia Henry, says:

"It's great that Stewart Stevenson is joining RNID Scotland's call on the Scottish Executive to start publishing audiology waiting time figures. Audiology waiting times are unacceptable in many parts of Scotland, with some people waiting up to two years for a hearing aid. People need to know how long they will wait for a hearing test and then to be fitted with a hearing aid. The true picture won't be known until the Scottish Executive takes action and publishes the data.

"Additionally, the Scottish Executive should publish a timescale detailing when NHS Scotland audiology services will meet the 18-week waiting time target for people to receive their hearing aids from the point of GP referral, as recognised by the NHS National Waiting Times Unit. It makes no sense to make people wait so long for an inexpensive but vital piece of equipment that can make such a difference to their everyday lives and reconnect them to society."

For further information on deafness and hearing loss, please contact RNID's information line on telephone 0808 808 0123, textphone 0808 808 9000 or visit www.rnid.org.uk.