- Improving access to drop-in hearing aid services
A drop-in service helping people access repairs to hearing aids
or information about their conditions is to be further rolled out
across Scotland over the next year.
Community Care Minister announced plans to expand
RNID's Near You community service nationally - supporting people
with their hearing aids and providing aftercare where alternative
arrangements are not already in place. RNID is a national charity
supporting 1.5 million people in Scotland who are deaf, have
hearing loss or tinnitus.
The Near You service already operates in five health boards as an
alternative to hospital-based support.
The Minister earlier met organisations including the RNID and NHS
board officials to discuss how to enhance community audiology
services over future months and years - including moving services
into the community.
The meeting fulfils a commitment for the first 100 days of this
government and aims to reduce the amount of time spent waiting
for hearing loss-related hospital appointments. RNID research
suggests the number of people affected by deafness, hearing loss
or tinnitus is expected to increase as the population ages.
The Minister said:
Hearing loss affects one in three adults and I was interested -
and at times moved - to hear from people and their families about
the invaluable impact of the Near You service.
We are committing to rolling out the RNID Near You service
nationally, where alternative local arrangements are not in
place. This means communities across the country will be able to
access an invaluable service which is maintaining hearing aids,
helping people manage their conditions and access peer support
networks that are vital for wellbeing.
More generally, the Scottish Government is working to shift the
diagnosis and treatment of uncomplicated, age-related hearing
loss into the community to support acute services and bring care
closer to home. Thanks to our focus and the hard work of staff,
activity in our NHS is up, long waits are down and rolling out
community services remains my laser focus.
Crystal Rolfe, Director of Health at RNID, said:
"We welcome the Scottish Government's support on the expansion of
our RNID Near You services in Scotland and their engagement with
stakeholders on wider improvements to audiology services.
These are important first steps in helping more people access the
support they need for their hearing health closer to home. Our
friendly staff and volunteers provide free, practical support,
whether that's help with hearing aids, tips and advice on hearing
loss or signposting to access other audiology services.
"Timely access to the full range of audiology services, from
diagnostics and treatment through to ongoing aftercare, is
critical. Looking after your hearing health can have a
significant impact on quality of life, improving physical, social
and emotional wellbeing."
Background
RNID Near You: our local support
services - RNID.
Prevalence of deafness and
hearing loss - RNID
Near You services already operates in NHS Borders, Fife, Greater
Glasgow and Clyde, Lothian and Shetland using £200,0000 of
Scottish Government funding.
The 2026-27 Scottish Budget underlines the commitment to improve
services by increasing funding for community audiology policy
development including further roll-out of Near You by £1
million.
