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NHS Audiology Waits Plummet: From Years to Weeks
22 Apr
Summary
- Audiology service waits cut from 52 to 22 weeks for new referrals.
- Hearing aid fitting wait times reduced from 104 to 15 weeks.
- Patient numbers dropped by over 1,000 for adults and children.
An audiology department previously suspended due to safety concerns has reported substantial improvements. Waiting times for new referrals have been drastically reduced from 52 weeks to 22 weeks. Additionally, the backlog for hearing aid fittings has decreased significantly, from 104 weeks down to just 15 weeks.
These improvements follow an internal review that highlighted issues with oversight, data management, and leadership gaps. In response, the trust has increased clinic capacity and enhanced operational efficiency.
As of April 2026, the trust anticipates that most new referrals will be seen within six weeks, with fittings scheduled within eight weeks of diagnosis. They aim to address all outstanding patient waits within the current financial year.
Patient numbers on waiting lists have also fallen. Adult cases decreased from 9,630 to 8,407, and paediatric cases reduced from 1,984 to 1,634. The number of adults awaiting a first appointment dropped by 75%.
