What’s your experience of NHS Lothian Adult Audiology like?
While there is a gap in the level of technology offered by the NHS vs private sector dispensers, the gap in levels of service can be even greater.
My experience of NHS Lothian Adult Audiology was for a two week wait for an appointment to be standard, even for rearranged appointments arising from issues at their end. They’d tell you to go home and call them to make another appointment. The department itself was perhaps the least deaf aware environment I’ve ever experience:a waiting area with pillars blocking view and laid out with your back to where staff would call out names; and staff who would speak to hearing chaperones rather than the deaf patient directly. They’d just treat the symptoms rather than dealing with the cause properly. Ear mould impressions that had to be re-taken multiple times.
Contrast with local independent audiologists (not the high street chains like Specsavers) who offer next-day, if not same-day, appointments, access to hearing aids across the whole of the market and who understand what customer service is. They’re often willing to deal with NHS hearing aids.