Hearing aid cuts would have 'traumatic effect', doctors told

The Clinical Commissioning Group wants to decommission the hearing aids to the section of sufferers in South Staffordshire to save money.

North Staffordshire CCG scrapped the supply of aids to people with mild hearing loss earlier this year - the NHS group now hopes to bring in a similar policy south of the county.

It would affect around 107,000 people in the areas of Stafford, Hednesford, Rugeley, Stone, Cannock and other parts of south Staffordshire.

A three-month consultation was to be held - but was stalled for a workshop for the public, who questioning board members from the CCG, who also presented their case to councillors.

Celia Jarrett, aged 72 from Silverdale, has been wearing hearing aids for six years.

She said: "If this cut to the service comes in, my life would drastically change for the worse.

"The simple things I take for granted, such as listening to the television, hearing my grandchildren's laughter, traffic noise when crossing the road, would all be gone. My quality of life would be severely limited.

"I appreciate that cuts have to be made but I honestly believe that depriving people of a right to hear or be heard with have a detrimental effect on the health service, higher education and the economy."

Andrew Donald, chief officer of Staffordshire's CCG, said: "We know this is highly controversial proposal, but it is not at the consultation stage and the findings of this open meeting will now be discussed and a decision will be made from here.

"This proposal will be discussed with all areas potentially affected and we are committed to ensure any plans are well-publicised and well ahead of time."

Harjit Sandhu, director at National Community Hearing Association, said: "Evidence by the clinical priorities advisory group was obtained two years ago in December 2013, how has there not been a new re-calculation of evidence since then?

"Hearing loss is a major public health issue and what needs to be monitored is the benefits of any any proposal, rather than cuts. I would ask all CCG's to make savings rather than cuts, if people in certain parts of the area are not using hearing aids, the system needs to be fixed rather than penalising the population."

Mark Dudek, aged 59 from Stafford, said if hearing aids were to be decommissioned, it would have a traumatic effect in his life.

He said: "I've got hearing aids in both ears so if this was to happen and I needed new ones in a few years time but couldn't afford then due to the high private costs, then I would absolutely struggle in every day life."

A decision on if the policy is rolled out in the south of the county will be made by the CCG.

An update on the situation will be given by the health body at a meeting in January. No exact date has been set for the meeting.