Hearing Aids (NHS) Scrivens or Specsavers?

Foreveryoung1

I've seen my GP about my hearing loss, and via the NHS scheme, I can now choose to have a hearing test and be supplied with hearing aids from various sources including my local NHS hospital, Specsavers or Scrivens. A friend has said that Specsavers offer more choice on the NHS scheme than an NHS hospital. Does anyone on this forum have any experience of using either of these high street sources on the NHS scheme? Thank you

pollypenny

My NHS hearing aid is hardly noticable.

I wouldn't go elsewhere. Can't the audiology department at the hospital supply you?

Foreveryoung1

Pollypenny - Yes they can, just considering the alternatives. Being a man with short hair, I would like to consider an in-the-ear aid rather than one on the outside of the ear and apparently Specsavers have that type available on the NHS scheme and it's free.

pollypenny

Fair enough.

Hear-Hear

Foreveryoung1 wrote: »

Being a man with short hair, I would like to consider an in-the-ear aid rather than one on the outside of the ear and apparently Specsavers have that type available on the NHS scheme and it's free.

Unfortunately, what you have been told is not true. Neither Specsavers nor Scrivens (nor any other private firms that are contracted to supply free NHS-funded hearing aids) can fit in-the-ear aids under the NHS scheme. There is an exception to this rule, namely if you have a medical condition that physically prevents the wearing of a standard NHS behind-the-ear hearing aid.

The advantage of you being able to choose Scrivens or Specsavers is that you can generally be seen much more quickly, you don't have to go to a hospital, and you can usually just pop in without an appointment for repairs and adjustments.

Scrivens and Specsavers supply and fit NHS-funded hearing aids across nearly 50% of England. Across the other 50%-60% of the country, NHS-funded aids can only be obtained from the local hospital. It depends on which Surgery / Medical Centre you are registered with.