Bolton MP Yasmin Qureshi backs Specsavers hearing campaign

Yasmin Qureshi, MP for Bolton South and Walkden, has struggled with her hearing for most of her life and is backing a campaign to move audiology to a primary care system, which would allow patients to access hearing tests on high streets, in a similar way to eye tests.

With waiting times as long as 20 months for audiology appointments, Ms Qureshi said the issue cannot be ignored and argued that a self-referral system would reduce pressures on hospitals.

Ms Qureshi said: “This is an issue very close to my heart, I have been having problems with my ears and hearing loss for many, many years. 

“And the first time I had an ear graft was when I was aged 17, so both of my ears have challenges.

Yasmin Qureshi MP speaking at a campaign event (Image: Office of Yasmin Qureshi MP)

“I think it was only a few months ago that I truly felt the impact, when I was sitting in the House of Commons chamber, waiting to be called and the Speaker actually did call me out but I managed to mishear him.

“So I know through my own first-hand experience that the impact of unaddressed hearing loss is profound. 

“It impacts employment, complicates communication and social interactions, often leading to social isolation and loneliness.”

Specsavers, which is leading the campaign, said the proposed new system would free up to 500,000 GP appointments a year and enable patients to be seen within four weeks.

Ms Qureshi said: “Waiting times for hospital audiology services can be something as long as 20 months, in some places. 

“So it’s not an issue we can ignore, and therefore we need to see changes in the NHS so that all those who need it are able to access it.

“So that’s one of the reasons I’m calling for a move to a model of primary care audiology, working alongside NHS hospitals, to find a better solution. 

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“We need to harness the capacity on our high streets to ensure the NHS can deliver early care, closer to home, and at a lower cost, ending the postcode lottery that excludes people from accessing the hearing care they need.”

She added: “At the same time this will reduce pressures on hospitals, allowing them to concentrate on more complicated, hospital-based needs.”

Specsavers founder Doug Perkins said he believed he and his fellow campaigners could achieve a “a realistic model across the nation in five years.”

He said that he would be putting the case to Minister of State Stephen Kinnock MP. 

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “We are clear that the NHS is broken and community health services like audiology have been neglected.

“A crucial part of our 10-year health plan will be moving towards a neighbourhood care service, enabling people to get diagnosed earlier and treated faster, closer to home, with more care delivered in local communities.

“We want to use all resources and options we have available to improve access and reduce waiting times for referrals.”