Pan Lancashire Audiology AQP - 2nd Window

NHS Blackburn Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), NHS West Lancashire CCG, NHS East Lancashire CCG, NHS Fylde & Wyre CCG, NHS Blackpool CCG, NHS Lancashire North CCG, NHS Chorley & South Ribble CCG and NHS Greater Preston CCG seek applications from providers to be part of an AQP for Audiology in the Pan Lancashire area. The impact of hearing loss in adults can be great both at a personal and a societal level leading to social isolation, depression, loss of independence and employment challenges. Assessing the hearing needs of patients with hearing loss, developing an individual management plan and providing appropriate interventions can reduce isolation, facilitate continued integration with society and promote independent living. The ageing population means that demand for both hearing assessment and treatment services is set to rise substantially over the coming years. However, a significant proportion of this client group will have routine problems that do not require referral for an Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) out-patient appointment prior to assessment. Patients have benefitted from direct access to adult hearing care services with a referral made directly from their GP enabling timely diagnosis and treatment. One in six people in the UK have some form of hearing loss. Most are older people who are gradually losing their hearing as part of the ageing process, with more than 70% of over 70 year-olds and 40% of over 50 year-olds having some form of hearing loss. Around 2 million people currently have a hearing aid, however, approx. 30% of these do not use them regularly, and there are a further 4 million people who do not have hearing aids and would benefit from them. In addition we are faced with an ageing population, where there will be an estimated 14.5 million people with hearing loss by 2031. The World Health Organisation predicts that by 2030 adult onset hearing loss will be a long term condition ranking in the top ten disease burdens in the UK, on a par or perhaps exceeding those of diabetes and cataracts. The aim is the provision of a comprehensive patient-centred direct access adult hearing service for age related hearing loss in line with national guidance and local requirements. The vision for people with age related hearing problems is for them to receive, high quality, efficient services delivered closer to home, with short waiting times and high responsiveness to the needs of local communities, free at the point of access via an AQP system.

The reason for this re-opening of the application window so soon is that the CCGs wish to increase the capacity in market slightly.