Hearing aids!

[torque2me]

Originally Posted by StewartIngram

I only wish that the local GP would/could refer to the local hospital! Our local authority has outsourced hearing aid services to Specsavers - a bad mistake.
Before I had hearing aids, I was at work on the Underground, with annual medicals including hearing tests, which I always passed. I decided to get a hearing test, at Specsavers. The guy in there did the test (I didn't think he was as proficient as the Underground ones were), then immediately started the hard sell of the aids they had. I said, hang on, I'm not buying, just NHS. I virtually got pushed out of the door. So I went to the GP, who arranged for me to get tested by....Specsavers. I booked an appointment online, had a choice of shops around, also the local (small) hospital, I chose the latter; it was manned by Specsavers! She took the previous test results they had, without checking me again, and provided a pair of aids. When I had a problem, I went to the shop. I was told only 1 visit per year or I paid. They were insistent on the latter. Yet the instruction leaflet (which they never supplied, I had to search for it on the internet), gave me more information, including changing the earpiece tubes regularly, which they refused to do. After a couple of years I asked if there was any follow up, they said no. So I went through the GP, they arranged another test (Specsavers of course). A new set of aids were supplied, via Specsavers but at a room they hired away from the shop (which was too cramped). After a while I noticed our GP was doing monthly charity led sessions to get batteries and servicing. Saves Specsavers the bother it seems. I visited one last week after having a damaged tube. Sorry, no can do they said, Specsavers won't supply us with that type. So I went into Specavers shop. Oh we can't replace that without an appointment they said. I stood my ground, eventually the manager changed it with no problem, after they had said it was a technical job that needed a specialist(!).
Total waste of space.

You could write to your Trust or NHS England and your MP asking why other NHS Trust's provide follow-up advice/maintenance/repair and replacement services but when outsourced they are not. Ask where the differnce of money goes!

Of course, don't expect any intelligent replies, just the mumbo jumbo of policy. It does, though, provide endless hours of being made busy doing letter drafts (or e-mail) with a letter to the local paper and perhaps even a national one.

Kev

[roverbarmy]

Originally Posted by StewartIngram

I decided to get a hearing test, at Specsavers. The guy in there did the test (I didn't think he was as proficient as the Underground ones were), then immediately started the hard sell of the aids they had. I said, hang on, I'm not buying, just NHS. I virtually got pushed out of the door. So I went to the GP, who arranged for me to get tested by....Specsavers. I booked an appointment online, had a choice of shops around, also the local (small) hospital, I chose the latter; it was manned by Specsavers! She took the previous test results they had, without checking me again, and provided a pair of aids. When I had a problem, I went to the shop. I was told only 1 visit per year or I paid. They were insistent on the latter. Yet the instruction leaflet (which they never supplied, I had to search for it on the internet), gave me more information, including changing the earpiece tubes regularly, which they refused to do. After a couple of years I asked if there was any follow up, they said no. So I went through the GP, they arranged another test (Specsavers of course). A new set of aids were supplied, via Specsavers but at a room they hired away from the shop (which was too cramped). After a while I noticed our GP was doing monthly charity led sessions to get batteries and servicing. Saves Specsavers the bother it seems. I visited one last week after having a damaged tube. Sorry, no can do they said, Specsavers won't supply us with that type. So I went into Specavers shop. Oh we can't replace that without an appointment they said. I stood my ground, eventually the manager changed it with no problem, after they had said it was a technical job that needed a specialist(!).
Total waste of space.

My (97 year old) mum went to Specsavers for specs. I heard the assistant talking to the manager who was telling the assistant to "push all the extras you can". I managed to speak to mum and she "resisted" all the attempts at "extras". When her specs arrived, she could not see properly and the assistant said that she needed to get used to them. Mum insisted that an optician checked the lenses against her prescription and they were completely wrong. My mum is not one to be fobbed off and demanded an immediate refund. She got it! (causing quite a disturbance in the store as she did)! I wouldn't trust them syringing my ears! A locally retired nurse is making more than she earned as a nurse, doing private syringing at the patients home.

[torque2me]

Originally Posted by roverbarmy

A locally retired nurse is making more than she earned as a nurse, doing private syringing at the patients home.

Hmmmm, I wonder if ear syringing is really, really necessary and not just an easy money job. Ears are supposed to be self cleaning and if the wax has been allowed to "harden" then there are remedies. Probably the same for "excess" wax.

Kev

[starbug2]

Originally Posted by roverbarmy

I got a hearing aid back in 2007 approx. I never really got on with it, so just used it on certain occasions. As my hearing got worse, I started to wear it to watch telly etc., but it kept whistling and singing an out of tune accompaniment. SWMBO insisted that I went back for another hearing check. My hearing was much worse, so I now have two new hearing aids. Wow! I'm totally amazed at the difference in quality in 15 years! It's only day one and I am gobsmacked at the difference. Thank you SWMBO and the NHS.

Bev has had hearings aids for a very long time so i know of them .. she has two i i know they need to be adjusted and set up right to work well .