ESPOPF

The responsibility for the provision of batteries is shared between the Audiology Departments of the larger hospitals and the Hampshire Primary Care Trust.

There are no provisions for the distribution of NHS hearing-aid batteries in the whole of the Southern Parishes.

The nearest centres are the NHS Clinics provided by neighbouring PCTs: Southampton PCT– Bitterne and Woolston
Portsmouth PCT – Sylvan Clinic at Park Gate.

Other more distant Centres are at the major hospitals of Southampton, Winchester and Portsmouth, and at an Eastleigh clinic, provided by Hampshire PCT.

Auiology Departments also provide a postal service. The Record Book, used batteries and a stamped addressed envelope are required.

These provisions do not accord with the Department of Health recommendations: “Improving Access to Audiology Services in England, March 2007”; “Transforming Adult Hearing Services for Patients with Hearing Difficulty, June 2007”; the “Care Closer to Home Programme”.

ESPOPF is urging the Hampshire PCT to make use of the provisions of the NHS to commission the Pharmacy at Blackthorn Health Centre, in the first instance, to provide more local services.