Deaf people are being forced to turn off their hearing aids because of a nationwide shortage of batteries within the NHS.
GP surgeries and hospital audiology departments are rationing batteries to ensure there are enough to go around.
Patients with hearing impairments are restricted to one pack of batteries per week and must return to the hospital for more supplies. They would normally be handed several packs, lasting a few months, to save them repeated visits. Batteries last between 5 and 14 days depending on the level of hearing loss and how much the hearing aid is used.
Patients complained that they were incurring extra hospital parking charges and higher travel costs because of the trips to collect more supplies.
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Kay Fairhurst, the chairman of Salford Disability Forum, said: “One of our members in their eighties said they are forced to switch off their hearing aid to minimise their battery use. They just cannot get hold of the batteries.
“It’s not a good situation from a personal safety point of view if people are turning off their hearing aids. It’s very worrying.”
A notice on the website of NHS Royal Devon, which manages the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital, said: “Due to a current national shortage of hearing aid batteries, there may be temporary delays in battery availability for 312 brown batteries.
“We are committed to ensuring hearing care and will post batteries to patients promptly once the supply shortage has resolved. Please contact the department if you have any questions.”
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Audiology staff at Worthing Hospital told patients that one packet of batteries a week was the limit.
“There is a nationwide shortage of batteries,” one patient said. “We don’t know whether they are being restricted on the grounds of cost or what. People are unhappy they have to come back for more the following week.”
A Facebook notice for West Common Lane Teaching Practice, a GP surgery in Scunthorpe, said: “There is still a national shortage of hearing aid batteries being supplied to GP surgeries. We are not able to order any at the moment. The audiology department at Scunthorpe General Hospital advised patients they ‘can collect supplies from them directly’.”
In Barnstaple, Brannam Medical Practice, a GP surgery, said on its website that the batteries were out of stock.
An NHS Supply Chain warning last week said on its website: “The supply issue with hearing aid batteries from Energizer Trading Ltd is continuing. The affected product is the hearing aid battery crystal clear zinc air 8 pack size 312.”
The warning said NHS trusts were being allocated a maximum daily quantity to “ensure fair supply of available stock across the NHS”.
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The NHS said it anticipated the shortage would be resolved by March 16. The problem was first highlighted in November.
Crystal Rolfe, the director of strategy at the Royal National Institute for Deaf People, said: “Hearing aids are essential in enabling people to live connected and independent lives. They can have a hugely positive impact on wellbeing, improving people’s ability to listen, communicate and participate fully with friends, family and colleagues.
“When people cannot access hearing aids in the way they need to, the consequences can be significant. Difficulties with communication can lead to social isolation, reduced employment opportunities, and a decline in overall quality of life, which is why it’s so important that everyone who needs them can access proper functioning hearing aids, and in a timely manner.”
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