I had a referral for audiology, but nothing more happened, so I phoned them to ask what was happening.
I was told its at least a 3 month wait just for a hearing test now.
My GP also wants me to have an MRI done on my lower back, but I have been told it could be a 5 month wait!
Neurology (for headaches), also have no appointments until 2026!!
A friend of mine has been waiting a year for 2 new hips. She has to get up and down the stairs on all fours now, as she cannot walk at all anymore. She has at long last received a letter saying they can do her next month - that's if it doesn't get cancelled!
There must be thousands of people experiencing the same frustration, and it must be causing so much pain, worry, and exhaustion for many.
What I want to know is . . WHY?
Why has it got like this? Is it because there is not enough NHS staff at these hospitals any more, and if so, why not?
I do know some NHS Doctors have left to work in the Private sector now, but why, why are they all leaving?
I fear that in the future, the only way to get help will be to pay for it.
I think that's what this is all about - money. The wealthiest will always get seen first and the rest of us be seen at their convenience. It's frightening.
The NHS was founded by Nye Bevan... Heath treatment for all..
Over the years the NHS has been abused by many..
The problem being they never turned anyone away.. Many would travel from abroad in order to obtain treatment.. The pandemic... brought the NHS to it's knees.. They just couldn't cope with it all..
Staff worked damned hard.. for little pay.. They could do the same job abroad for better wages and respect.. So many Emigrated..
To cut a long story short.. The NHS has collapsed.. Private insurance will be introduced..
But it will still be free for those who are on (Benefits) and that will include many from this country and those (Visiting) our shores.. Back to square one..
I think they will eventually end up doing the same to us as the Dentists did - we will have to either cough up, or find a NHS doctor who might see you.
Even then, any NHS doctors left will be swamped out with those who cannot afford private treatment, same as any remaining NHS Dentists are..
I had a hearing test last week .
It was free at Boots they called me .
I am a little hard of hearing but nothing too bad they told me to come back in two years time.
I think it maybe a postcode lottery as to length of treatment .
No joke to those in need .
I found out after getting NHS hearing aids that Boots and Specsavers can do them too for free or so I believe although both are likely to try to upsell you with more expensive ones.
My GP referred me to specsavers when I said my hearing was fading. Appointment within a week or two, test done and issued with hearing aids while I was there. All free, with free checkups and batteries etc.
Quote from: klondike on April 05, 2025, 06:57:36 PMI found out after getting NHS hearing aids that Boots and Specsavers can do them too for free or so I believe although both are likely to try to upsell you with more expensive ones.
Really? That sounds too good to be true. I must look into that.
Thanks Klondike.
Just had a quick google, and it seems Boots do not offer free NHS hearing aids.
However, it seems Spec Savers do, if one's circumstances meet the requirements.
P.S.
With Spec Savers you can also do a quick online hearing test, too. It's not a proper in-depth one, just a basic one.
Quote from: dextrous63 on April 05, 2025, 07:53:17 PMMy GP referred me to specsavers when I said my hearing was fading. Appointment within a week or two, test done and issued with hearing aids while I was there. All free, with free checkups and batteries etc.
My first hearing aids, over 12 years ago, were free on the NHS from Withington Hospital.
They were quite basic, of course, but for people with slight hearing loss they are probably fine.
Quote from: dextrous63 on April 05, 2025, 07:53:17 PMMy GP referred me to specsavers when I said my hearing was fading. Appointment within a week or two, test done and issued with hearing aids while I was there. All free, with free checkups and batteries etc.
Dex, what type of hearing aids did they give you? Are they they sort of big 'solid' one that blocks off most of the external ear, or are they little small ones that go over the back of your ear and with only a tiny thin pointy bit going into the ear itself?
The hospital audiology has to make a mould of your ear to get the right fit, so I am surprised they could give you yours there and then?
Do you find them good?
Quote from: JBR on April 06, 2025, 12:44:16 PMMy first hearing aids, over 12 years ago, were free on the NHS from Withington Hospital.
They were quite basic, of course, but for people with slight hearing loss they are probably fine.
My first ones were also from there (the old Withington Hospital Site). They were the big old clunky ones.
Quote from: dextrous63 on April 06, 2025, 12:59:27 PMMy first ones were also from there (the old Withington Hospital Site). They were the big old clunky ones.
No no, sorry, I meant which sort did you get from Specsavers, not the hospital?
(Whoops, I also spelled 'mould' instead of Mold!)
Quote from: Mups on April 06, 2025, 02:41:27 PMNo no, sorry, I meant which sort did you get from Specsavers, not the hospital?
(Whoops, I also spelled 'mould' instead of Mold!)
No, you are correct. ('Mold' is the American version.)
Quote from: Mups on April 06, 2025, 02:41:27 PMNo no, sorry, I meant which sort did you get from Specsavers, not the hospital?
(Whoops, I also spelled 'mould' instead of Mold!)
Pair of phonak. Here's one...
(https://i.postimg.cc/8cQnQDF3/IMG-0196.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/mzjSCvyN)
I keep the other one in a pouch, in my pencil case since when tutoring, I sit on their right and need to hear with my left ear😉. I rarely use them other than when out and about and, even then, only now and again.
Ah, thanks for that Dex.
BTW, so are Mould (mildew), and Mould (a model of something) both spelt the same? :hmm:
Quote from: Mups on April 06, 2025, 10:16:43 PMAh, thanks for that Dex.
BTW, so are Mould (mildew), and Mould (a model of something) both spelt the same? :hmm:
Yes, I believe so.
Quote from: JBR on April 07, 2025, 10:13:30 AMYes, I believe so.
Thanks, JBR. :upvote:
April 07, 2025, 09:57:21 PMOn the way home from seeing the Physio again this afternoon, I called into Specsavers to get some info on their hearing aids.
The young lad in there wanted to book me in there and then, but I said No, and that I wanted to know the procedure first.
He then said straightaway, that they do not do NHS aids, so I said that wasn't what it said on their website.
But he insisted they only sell private ones. So I asked if he had any leaflets I could take home and read first, which he found for me.
When I studied their website again this evening, I found they do some NHS aids, but strangely, it depends on what your GP's postcode is!! How weird.
Anyway, there is a box on their website to fill in, and you have to put your doctor's postcode in, which I did.
The answer came back that there are no NHS hearing aids in my area.
That seems really weird to me, but nothing I can do about it.
Their cheapest ones are around £1,000 a pair I believe.
Sorry to hear that (no pun intended Mups). My wife has hearing aids similar to mine, but were issued from the NHS audiology dept somewhere. They're not as good as mine, and I often lend her mine so she can actually hear properly.
I have NHS ones, they are helpful when in meetings or watching TV, theatre etc. I don't wear them all the time, I'm fine one to one or on the phone without them. My daughter also has an NHS one, hearing loss runs in the family I'm afraid. My son has just forked out a lot (several £k) for all singing and dancing aids. I believe they're Phonak.
Both Marge and I have hearing aids which can be switched to pick up sounds from the computer or the telly.
This is very useful if I am watching a TV programme and Marge is listening to music on her computer.
It also helps us to avoid talking to each other. 🤣
Quote from: GrannyMac on April 08, 2025, 06:58:10 AMI have NHS ones, they are helpful when in meetings or watching TV, theatre etc. I don't wear them all the time, I'm fine one to one or on the phone without them. My daughter also has an NHS one, hearing loss runs in the family I'm afraid. My son has just forked out a lot (several £k) for all singing and dancing aids. I believe they're Phonak.
Yes, my daughter-in-law has those expensive ones too, Granny. Not sure now, but I believe they were around £4,000 for the pair.
I could never afford those sort of prices though. I told her our first brand new house cost less than that!
I would never understand all the technical stuff anyway.
So many people with hearing aids.. They must do some brilliant ones for I never notice people wearing them..
Quote from: Scrumpy on April 08, 2025, 11:31:06 AMSo many people with hearing aids.. They must do some brilliant ones for I never notice people wearing them..
Yes, I think there must be, Scrumpy. The waiting list for a hearing test at Audiology is around 3 months at the mo.
My hair covers my ears and hides mine. 👩🏻�🦳
Quote from: GrannyMac on April 08, 2025, 12:10:59 PMMy hair covers my ears and hides mine. 👩🏻�🦳
Same here, Granny. I only needed an aid on the left side initially, but a bit uncertain that's the same as time has gone on.