Not the only opticians out there!

I am pleased to hear that you have never had a problem whether the NHS was under the Tories or Labour, djen and hope it continues.
I would call it outsourcing under the auspices of the NHS to the benefit of the patient and I would have thought that, if then referred to a hospital consultant then you would remain under their direct care until discharged.

Our nearest Specsavers is a walk or short drive away, our nearest hospital is a 40 mile round trip, no park and ride, parking free but allow an extra hour to get a space. Wait however long to be seen.
However, if you are 5 minutes late because of parking difficulties then you are sent away and have to make another appointment.
When you finally get seen they are very good.
That is Wales, though, so it sounds as if you are better off in England.

I've just explained that Specsavers is further away for me, so how is it much better access for everyone? What does quicker access mean?
I have never had any problem going to the audiology department in my local hospital wherever I lived, and I have been going since I had an eardrum graft when I was 20.
This is privatisation. Why not just say you agree with privatisation of the NHS?

One benefit of them being outsourced is much improved accessibility for everyone as were as quicker access.

No but there will not be the need to have so many once the low-lying fruit has been taken, i.e. the hearing tests.
This applies in this case.

www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/private-healthcare-companies-accused-of-using-tax-relief-to-undercut-the-nhs-10251549.html

Specsavers are not an altruistic company. There is lots of controversy about whether they pay their taxes in the country that generates their profits.

ENT consultants would still need the E durhamj!
I can't imagine their remit disappearing when aural surgery is involved.

durhamjen I hadn't thought about it, but I can see your point. Also, once audiology departments in hospitals have contracted and are only used to treat patients with more serious conditions, private companies will have the upper hand and what they charge the NHS for doing the routine tests will increase.

I would have to go to the park and ride, and catch the bus to whichever I went to. The hospital is the first stop. The Specsavers is the fourth stop.

Audiologists can only be at one place at a time. The same people do audiology tests as do other tests. ENT departments might have problems once the E part disappears to privatisation.

No.

Did it ever, Ana? Has it changed lately?

My local hospital doesn't have an audiology department.

If the audiology department stops doing hearing tests that presumably doesn't automatically mean it stops all other services under its remit? There will still be people needing them.

At least if I were to go to Specsavers/Boots/however I won't have a 30 mile round trip, pay extortionate parking charges and interminable waits I guess.

My hospital is closer than my Specsavers.
However, that does not answer the question of creeping privatisation, and what happens when your hospital audiology department has closed down because it is no longer economical.

Some of us already have to travel long distances for various treatments, durhamjen.

I agree absolutely, rosequartz. Hospital parking is a nightmare - our local town centre isn't much better but at least you'll find a space within half an hour. Plus, the Specsavers/Boots/whatever outlet doesn't have that 'hospital' atmosphere that a lot of people find offputting.

So when the audiology department no longer does hearing tests, what about people who need the department for other things? The department at your local hospital will have been closed down as non-viable, and you will have to go 50 miles away to the next audiology department.
Hope that's not you.

Sorry, retrieve.

I have had an NHS hearing aid for my good ear for years. They cannot improve the hearing in my other ear.
I refuse to go to Specsavers.

I just wonder if a lot of people may find it is a good idea to be able to go to their local opticians, Specsavers, Boots or other, for their NHS hearing test and aid. Getting to a hospital, parking etc can be a nightmare these days whereas going to a local opticians in the nearest town may be a much more pleasant option.
Even though we don't pay for hospital parking in Wales it can take up to an hour to get a parking space sometimes.

I received a brochure from Specsavers (have just rummaged through the recycling bin to retreive it, to check what I said).
"New, improved digital hearing aids on the NHS now available free at Specsavers.
Find out whether you could qualify inside.

If you qualify for free hearing aids on the NHS you do not have to go to a hospital anymore.
Specsavers Hearing Centres have been accredited to provide NHS hearing services in your region. That means you can get a hearing test with a hearing care professional, two digital hearing aids and full aftercare ,free, as long as you are above the NHS qualifying age and referred by your GP."

Why? As said before, privatisation of the NHS.
Please agree again, Charleygirl.

Thanks, Charleygirl. You never know, that might be just the start!

I will always be grateful to the optician at Specsavers who spotted that DH had had a stroke. He rushed through a letter to our surgery and when the locum GP rubbished his opinion he wrote a letter for us to take A&E should it have been necessary. Without his dedication DH would not have realised he was unfit to drive and I still shudder to think what might have happened.

I think that the NHS couldn't keep up with the referrals (it was eyes) so contracted it out to a private local optician. I presume they had to submit a tender to the NHS. It was all free to the patient.

I'm all for it if it shortens waiting times! Not sure though if it's NHS privatisation or the independent opticians are getting canny and trying to attract customers.

It's not just Specsavers, some independent opticians are taking over some of the services from the NHS - free of charge to the patient.
The one where DIL worked was doing that.

x posts vq

I don't see what the problem is. People have always had to go to an Optician for eye tests and lens prescriptions.

I'm sure a lot of people would rather bypass the NHS if their hearing problems are relatively minor - saves NHS resources and saves the patient having to wait ages for an appointment to be seen by a specialist. I believe you can get NHS hearing aids via Specsavers.