First ever rationing of free hearing aids

The first ever rationing of free hearing aids on the NHS comes into force in North Staffordshire today, with the rest of Staffordshire planning to mirror the cuts over the coming months

The charity Action on Hearing Loss, with support from local and national deaf organisations and audiology professionals, has spent the last 15 months campaigning to reverse the decision made by the North Staffordshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) to cut hearing aids for most people who need them. Over 5,000 Staffordshire residents have signed a petition calling for the cuts to be stopped.

Paul Breckell, Chief Executive of charity Action on Hearing Loss says:

'Not only will new patients who've just started to confront their hearing loss be denied access to the only treatment available, many who have already been relying on hearing aids but who now need new ones will not get them. We'll continue to fight against these ill-thought through, baffling and unprecedented cuts which see the first rationing of NHS services for hearing loss.'

Read more on the Action on Hearing Loss website

- See more at: www.disabilityrightsuk.org/news/2015/october/first-ever-rationing-free-hearing-aids