Highland patients are waiting almost a year for hearing tests
The independence and autonomy of Highland patients is being chipped away by waits for hearing tests and hearing aids lasting the best part of a year, according to David Green MSP.
The Caithness, Sutherland and Ross MSP asked the Scottish Government to take action today after it was confirmed hundreds were waiting far longer than the 18-week target.
According to a Freedom of Information request by the Caithness Health Action Team (CHAT) - 946 patients waited an average of 47 weeks for their first audiology appointment and 632 waited more than 40 weeks for hearing aids.
Mr Green fears that such waits can "chip away at people's independence and their ability to stay connected to friends and family. Every month spent waiting makes that reality harder”.
So earlier today in the Scottish Parliament, he asked what the Minister for Community Care would do to ensure his constituents are seen within the 18-week guarantee.
He also asked when the expansion of RNID's "Near You" community services for long-term care would reach the Highlands.
In response, Alison Thewliss MSP expressed sympathy with patients who had waited too long and said the Government wanted to keep improving services, pointing to £1 million of funding announced in the 2026-2027 Budget.
She did not comment on whether the RNID ‘Near You’ service will expand to the Highlands which would help ensure long-term hearing aid care close to home.
David Green, Caithness, Sutherland and Ross MSP said:
"Nearly a thousand people in the Highlands are waiting almost a year just to have their first appointment”
"Hearing loss chips away at people's independence and their ability to stay connected to friends and family. Every month spent waiting makes that reality harder.
“Bringing audiology care to the high streets would save NHS time and keep care close to home - a win- win the Scottish Government shouldn’t ignore”
Maria Aitken, CHAT Secretary said:
"Urgent action is needed to address these unacceptable delays for people waiting for audiology assessments and treatments across Highland.
"For many hearing loss is not simply and inconvenience. It can have devastating impact on all aspects of life and wellbeing. It can accelerate conditions such as Alzheimers.
"People should not have to struggle in silence while waiting for help. Government need to provide funding, reintroduce the patient waiting time guarantee for audiology and strengthen community-based audiology services."
Iain Gregory, CHAT Vice-Chair said:
"It is deeply concerning to find that the best part of a thousand patients across the Highlands are having to wait almost a year to have their first audiology appointment, with over 600 people having to wait some ten months to receive their hearing aids.
"Not only can impaired hearing lead to social isolation, but there is a known link between hearing loss and cognitive decline, and it is vital that early treatment is available to all.
"We have an 18-week treatment time guarantee, but it would seem, in the case of audiology, that we are actually experiencing a wait of some three times that, simply to get an initial appointment.
"Once again, we would call for equitable, accessible, and affordable access to vital medical treatment for all patients, not only in Highland, but across Scotland."
Campaigning
The Scottish Liberal Democrats have long been campaigning for audiology services to be made available on the high street.
Wendy Chamberlain MP revealed in February that adults in Fife were waiting an average of 395 days for audiology, with one patient waiting almost five years.
Specsavers have found that around 94% of adults with hearing loss have uncomplicated, age-related loss that can be safely treated in the community.
They are asking for £3.9 million a year over three years, for NHS Scotland to commission community providers to clear the adult backlog of around 27,000 people.