05 March 2010 - Publication of hearing aid assessments and re-asssessments up to 31 December 2009

This statistical bulletin presents information on hearing aid assessments and re-assessments by audiologists in Northern Ireland. It includes information on both adults and children fitted and assessed for hearing aids during the quarter, complaints received and cost of aids issued.

In addition, the return monitors complete and incomplete waits for assessment during the quarter, and the length of time patients were waiting, or had waited, following referral to an audiologist (specified time bands).

The South Eastern HSC Trust has indicated that the increase in the number of incomplete waits reported in this latest quarter is due both to an increase in ENT activity and in how these figures have been calculated. The effect of re-calculating the figure for incomplete waits for this quarter alone restricts the extent to which we can compare previous quarterly figures on incomplete waits. For this reason some caution should be exercised when comparing incomplete waits until the next issue of this publication when figures for previous quarters will be recalculated.

Key facts and figures

Patients Fitted:

• 3,096 patients were fitted with a digital hearing aid or analogue hearing aid during the quarter ending 31 December 2009 (3,083 digital hearing aids and 13 analogue hearing aids).
• Of the 3,096 patients fitted with a hearing aid during the quarter, 1,877 (61%) were new patients.
• Belfast HSC Trust (1,185) had the highest number of patients fitted with hearing aids during the quarter, with 707 in the South Eastern HSC Trust, 452 in the Southern HSC Trust, 436 in the Northern HSC Trust, and 316 in the Western HSC Trust.
• During the quarter, 2,717 existing patients were issued with digital hearing aid replacements or fixes. NB. To avoid double counting, patients issued with replacement aids/parts or fixes are not included in the information above.

Patients Assessed:

• 2,029 new and 1,474 existing patients were assessed for hearing aids during the quarter ending 31 December 2009. Of new patients, 122 adults and 37 children were assessed as unsuitable for a hearing aid.

Cost of Hearing Aids:

• During the quarter ending 31 December 2009, 5,322 hearing aids were issued across the five HSC Trusts at a total cost of £356,015.

Complaints Received:

• One complaint was reported by Audiology Departments in Northern Ireland during the quarter ending 31 December 2009.

Completed Waiting Times:

• During the quarter ending 31 December 2009, 3,623 patients had their hearing aid assessment/ re-assessment completed. This was 347 (11%) more than the number completed during the previous quarter and 119 (3%) less than the number completed during the same quarter last year.
• Of these 3,623 patients, 99% had been waiting less than 3 months from referral to Audiology Department until the aid was fitted and 1% had been waiting 3 to 6 months. This is a decrease in waiting times from last quarter where 2% had been waiting 3 to 6 months.

Incomplete Waiting Times:

• At 31 December 2009, 1,062 patients were waiting for their hearing aid assessment/ re-assessment to be completed. This was 418 (65%) more than the number waiting at the end of the previous quarter and 249 (31%) more than the number waiting at the end of the same quarter last year.
• This increase in incomplete waits from the previous quarter is principally due to an increase of 282 incomplete waits in the South Eastern HSC Trust. The South Eastern HSC Trust has indicated that this is due to additional in-house ENT activity and updating of the information used to calculate these figures.
• The highest proportion (99%) of these patients were waiting less than 3 months and 1% were waiting for 3 to 6 months. No patient was waiting more than 6 months.

Notes to editors:

1. This publication is available online:

2. About the data: The source of the data contained in this release is the Departmental monitoring return AUD1. This return collects information from HSC Trusts on a quarterly basis; Figures incorporate all returns and amendments received from HSC Trusts up to 25 February 2010.

3. This statistical bulletin was produced by Community Information Branch, DHSSPS.

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4. Media queries to DHSSPS Information Office on 028 9052 0074, or out of hours contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.