There are 12 million people with hearing loss across the UK and this is estimated to increase to 15.6 million by 2035.
Research has shown that GPs and their practices need to implement changes, to improve accessibility and consultations for their patients with hearing impairment. We must anticipate and promote these adjustments rather than make them on a responsive basis.
The Charter suggests ways to reduce variations in accessibility to GP practices and ensure Deafness and hearing loss are considered across all aspects of primary care activity including consultations and continued care.
The Equality Act 2010, Accessible Information Standard 2016 and Care Quality Commission (CQC) provides a clear legal foundation for providing access to healthcare for people with hearing loss. The Department of Health and NHS England’s Action Plan on Hearing Loss (2015) also references the Standard and lists ‘improved access to wider health services’ as a key outcome measure for service improvement. However, findings still suggest that people with hearing loss still face challenges when accessing healthcare.
The RCGP Deafness and hearing loss spotlight project are excited to launch the Hearing Friendly Practice Charter. It’s a great way to make some simple but impactful changes in your workplace and consultation skills that will demonstrate to your patients and staff that you want hearing impaired patients to feel empowered in fully participating in their treatment and care.
Our Vision
The amount of people with hearing loss in UK is increasing rapidly and undiagnosed hearing loss can have a huge impact on their mental wellbeing. We understand that GPs play a crucial role for patients in recognising signs of hearing loss and referring appropriately and in a timely manner. Our vision is to help standardise the variations in accessibility to GP practices and ensure Deafness and hearing loss are considered across all aspects of primary care activity including consultations and continued care.
This initiative should bring together the practice team, patient groups and essentially take steps towards empowering hearing-impaired people to fully participate in their treatment and care.
In time, we want to foster a growing network of Hearing Friendly Practices, who will inspire, share and encourage practices locally and further afield to join them.