Skip the NI Direct Bar
Skip navigation

Publication of hearing aid assessments and re-assessments during quarter ending 31 May 2009

Friday, 12 June 2009

The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety today published information on Hearing Aid Assessments and Re-Assessments for quarter ending 31 March 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).

Key facts and figures

Patients Fitted:

  • 3,372 patients were fitted with a digital hearing aid or analogue hearing aid during the quarter ending 31 March 2009 (3,343 digital hearing aids and 29 analogue hearing aids).
  • Of the 3,372 patients fitted with a hearing aid during the quarter, two thirds (2,246) were new patients.
  • Belfast HSC Trust had the highest number of patients fitted with hearing aids during the quarter (1,248), 819 in the South Eastern HSC Trust, 525 in the Southern HSC Trust, 477 in the Northern HSC Trust and 303 in the Western HSC Trust.
  • During the quarter, 2,183 existing patients were issued with digital hearing aid replacements or fixes (To avoid double counting, patients issued with replacement aids/ parts or fixes are not included in the information above).

Patients Assessed:

  • 2,257 new and 1,551 existing patients were assessed for hearing aids during the quarter ending 31 March 2009. Of new patients, 97 adults and 40 children were assessed as unsuitable for a hearing aid.

Cost of Hearing Aids:

  • During the quarter ending 31 March 2009, 5,223 aids were issued across the five HSC Trusts at a total cost of £334,903.

Complaints Received:

  • Four complaints were reported by Audiology Departments in Northern Ireland during the quarter ending 31 March 2009.

Completed Waiting Times:

  • During the quarter ending 31 March 2009, 3,711 patients had their hearing aid assessment/ re-assessment completed. This was 31 (1%) less than the number completed during the previous quarter and 301 (8%) less than the number completed during the same quarter last year.
  • Of these 3,711 patients, almost all had been waiting less than 3 months from referral to Audiology Department until the aid was fitted and less than 1% had been waiting 3 to 6 months. This is a decrease in waiting times from the previous quarter where 90% had been waiting less than 3 months and 10% had been waiting 3 to 6 months.

Incomplete Waiting Times:

  • At 31 March 2009, 1,113 patients were waiting for their hearing aid assessment/ re-assessment to be completed. This was 300 (37%) more than the number waiting at the end of the previous quarter and 356 (47%) more than the number waiting at the end of the same quarter last year. The increase in the number of patients waiting (300) was due principally to an increase of 302 in the number waiting in the Northern HSC Trust.
  • The highest proportion (92%) of these patients were waiting less than 3 months and 8% were waiting for 3 to 6 months. No patient was waiting more than 6 months.

Notes to Editors:

1. This publications 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 10 June 2009.

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

Further information is available from:

Community Information Branch,

Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety,

Annex 2, Castle Buildings,

Stormont, BT4 3SQ

Telephone: 028 9052 3299

E-mail

Internet

4. Media queries to DHSSPS Information Office on 028 9052 0074, or out of hours contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715440 and your call will be returned.