The most complex audiology cases will be covered by the target of treatment within 18 weeks of referral by December 2008, and the remaining routine adult hearing loss cases should be assessed within six weeks by March 2008, in line with the diagnostic waiting time milestone on which local commissioning plans are based. It is also good practice for the subsequent hearing aid fitting to be carried out soon after or at the same time as assessment.
The information on actual average waiting time for people requiring a new digital hearing aid from the point of referral to general practitioner for final fitting is not held centrally. However, the median wait for audiology assessments is 23 weeks.
The national audiology framework “Improving Access to Audiology Services in England”, was published on 6 March 2007, and copies are available in the Library. It sets out clear guidance to the national health service on how to reduce waiting times and how to provide the additional 300,000 pathways that are needed in the run-up to December 2008 to make a maximum wait of 18 weeks from referral to treatment possible for all audiology referrals. It aims to mitigate the risk to 18-week delivery and create a sustainable service model for audiology for the long term.