Clinicians from Newcastle hospitals Audiology Department are adapting the way they help patients who use hearing aids by offering an improved postal repairs service to prevent loneliness and isolation.
Patients receive replacement batteries and tubing for their earmoulds so they can continue to hear, despite the lockdown restriction on non-urgent face-to-face appointments.
Kate Johnston, Head of Audiology at the Freeman Hospital said: “Lockdown and being isolated from family and friends is tough on anyone, but if you lose your ability to hear, this can be even more isolating for the individual.
“We want to make sure that everyone can maintain some form of normality and can keep connected as possible, in what is a difficult time for everyone.
“We are still offering patients advice and support. If anyone needs batteries for their hearing aid or require information, please get in touch.”
The postal service is something the service will maintain after the current Covid-19 (coronavirus) restrictions are lifted and are encouraging patients to continue to order batteries and tubes via post where possible.
The Trust is no longer able to operate a drop-in hearing aid repair service at the Freeman hospital. The hearing aid repair service will be offered by appointment only.
Appointments will be available from 8.15am – 5pm Monday – Friday (excluding bank holidays).
Kate added: “Appointments will be limited to allow us to adhere to social distancing regulations in our waiting areas, so these appointments will be for emergency repairs only e.g.broken earmoulds. Please only book an appointment if it is an emergency.
Hearing aid postal repair kit
For all other repairs and hearing aid maintenance, we are still providing our postal repair service.”
To arrange a postal repair or to book an appointment please contact Audiology:
Telephone: 0191 223 1043
Text message only: 07766 087 036
Email:
Adults: [email protected]
Paediatrics: [email protected]
The Trust continues to follow updates from NHS England and will be seeing non-urgent patients when it is safe to do so.
