At one time Ruth, Raigmore Hospital Audiology Department was almost utopian, pre 2008, prior to austerity kicking off/in…We where indeed spoiled rotten, appointments where quick, a couple of weeks, or a month, referrals a few months, but once you where in the system, you where in… Believe it or not, every afternoon Monday to Friday was designated as open, absolutely no appointment required whatsoever, for getting new batteries, small repairs, tubing & ear hooks, slight adjustments to hearing aids, hearing aid impressions done, on the fly, occasionally they would swap out a broken or malfunctioning aid… It was indeed a brilliant service! Plus we had the Social Work run Deaf Services, 3 Deaf Service trained Social Workers, and over 40 “Deaf Specialists Support Workers”, whom installed environmental Deaf equipment, free of charge, like loop systems, vibration alarms, TV audio equipment, baby alarms… Plus much more besides… Spoiled rotten indeed, then austerity raised its ugly head, we where actively discouraged to seek any help whatsoever, just cast adrift, to sink or swim…Things like, making folks phone in, to make an Audiology Appointment, back then I struggled very badly on the phone, I explained this in person, only to be told it was the only way to get an appointment… Suffice to say, I got ripped into them over that issue, they soon u-turned that one! Cheers Kev 