NHS North Kirklees Community Adult Hearing Service AQP

NHS North Kirklees CCG is procuring a community adult hearing service for the population of the North Kirklees CCG area using the Any Qualified Provider (AQP) route.

The Direct Access Adult Hearing Service is aimed at adults (over the age of 55) experiencing difficulties with their hearing and communication who feel they might benefit from hearing assessment and care, including the option of trying hearing aids to reduce these difficulties.

In line with British Academy of Audiology Guidelines for Referral to Audiology of Adults with Hearing Difficulty (2009) and British Society of Hearing Aid Audiologists Protocol and Criteria for Referral for Medical or other Specialist Opinion (2011), the Direct Access Adult Hearing Service may be provided to patients as long as they do not meet the contra-indications listed at Appendix 1 of the specification.

Expected outcomes of the service:

• Increased patient choice and control as to where and when their treatment is delivered – providing on-going care closer to home

• Timely access to hearing assessment, fitting and follow-up

• Personalised care for all patients accessing the service

• High proportion of patients continuing to wear hearing aids

• High levels of satisfaction from patients accessing the service

• High levels of satisfaction from GPs referring into the service

• Reduced social isolation and consequent mental ill health (i.e. depression and onset of dementia)

• Improved quality of life for patients, their families/carers and communication partners

Key service outcomes:

• 90% of patients referred to the service should be assessed within 16 working days of receipt of referral.

• 90% of patients requiring hearing aid fitting should be seen within 20 working days of the assessment.

• 90% of follow-up appointments should be within 10 weeks of fitting.

• 90% of patients should be able to access aftercare within 2 working days of a request.

• 95% of responses received from patients (sampled via a service user survey) should report overall satisfaction with the service.

The service will manage patients in the community and provide the appropriate level of care including onward referral for patients where clinically appropriate.