NHS to review audiology department
NHS Shetland says it will be undertaking a review of its audiology department.
The health board said the review will form part of a “service delivery plan” to ease the existing backlog of patients waiting for review appointments, as well as new GP direct referrals for both paediatric and adult patients.
The review of the department, which deals with hearing issues, is being undertaken prior to the recruitment of a substantive audiologist.
The NHS said this to “ensure successful recruitment and retention of a suitably skilled” audiologist.
Currently there is an interim service provided by a combination of visiting audiologists, who are also participating in the review process.
NHS Shetland said when the visiting clinicians are unavailable it will “strive to obtain locum cover”.
Head of medical imaging and interim diagnostics lead Lucy Wilson said: “We appreciate your patience while we undertake this review and sincerely hope to recruit a suitable audiologist who will fulfil the needs of the Shetland community.
“I would like to ask for your ongoing understanding with appointment times, as appointments will be allocated based on priority, which may lead to some, who have a shorter waiting time, being seen sooner than others.
“Patient priority currently goes to those who have no hearing aid provision, along with paediatrics and patients awaiting ENT treatments.”
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