Hearing Aids.

You are fully entitled to request an NHS appointment and the GP can’t refuse or if he did he would have to have a damn good reason why he won’t. It is the Department of Health who state that if a patient requests a referral then the GP should not refuse. I’ve worked as a nurse and Health Visitor for a number of years and it looks to me as if the GP surgery benefit financially from patients buying the more expensive (private) hearing aids. This sort of thing is happening a lot as they look at new ways of making money particularly in areas where funding is limited. An audiologist in a hospital will probably have access to more equipment and services than one in a GP surgery, another good reason for requesting a referral. Don’t be put off, you’re entitled to this NHS treatment.

My FiL was seen by an audiologist at his GPs surgery when he needed new hearing aids. He was supplied with NHS ones.
When I had hearing tests due to tinnitus and balance problems that, too, was at one of the local GPs surgeries.

I think that many of the tests, for various problems, that used to be carried out at local hospitals are now, due to closures and changes, held at GPs surgeries instead. Perhaps it's worth checking to see if that is the case in your area. There's no point insisting on going to the hospital if the audiologists don't work from there any more.

Thank you so much GrandmaJan , I am hoping that by seeing the GP and asking him face to face that I can get to go to the local hospital . Other surgery's around here send patients to the local audiology department . Thanks again .

I had the choice of local hospital or Specsavers but told there would probably be a longer wait at the hospital. I got NHS aid from Specsavers

I am quite shocked that an NHS GP surgery has on its premises an audiologist who is trying to flog people private aids - and worse still by lying.

NHS aids are not "larger and more basic" - I was talking to a friend the other day who had come to visit me and I said I need to put a new battery in one of my hearing aids - and she said "Oh do you wear hearing aids?" - I have been wearing them for years!! She had never noticed them - they are NHS ones.

Go to GP and again and ask for appointment with hospital audiologist or with Specsavers, who in many areas act as NHS agent, and who, when I went there, made no attempt to flog me private ones.

My dh has brilliant nhs hearing aids and everyone who needs them is entitled to the same.

You do not need to even think of going down the road of paying for private hearing aids. The ones supplied by the NHS are virtually identical, and if you do need any special care - (eg: in ear ones), then the NHS will supply these also. They are small, and very discreet and NHS also ensure that repairs and batteries are supplied free. Private ones, you would have to take out an extra insurance for repairs and pay for the batteries.
It is disgusting that an Audiologist even suggest private ones to you - ignore this and obtain NHS ones, does not matter whether via that audiologist or at the local hospital Audiology department (if they have one) or specsavers (which also work on behalf of NHS Audiology).
Do not forget, also, that the brown book with which you are supplied with NHS Hearing Aids, will also entitle you to purchasing the Disabled Railcard, which is cheaper than the Senior one.

I got mine from Specsavers in March. NHS, and you get unlimited spare batteries.
They're neat and hide away at the top of your ear flap. Then a thin plastic wire to the button inside your ear.
I think you have to have the referral letter from the Dr. to take with you to Specsavers.

ps the outer ear flap is called the pinna. Never knew that.