ALLIANCE publishes report on accessing audiology services
- Area of Work: The ALLIANCE
- Type: News Item
- Published: 31st July 2023
New report as part of the National Review of Audiology Services on people's experience of accessing audiology services in Scotland.
In January 2022, the then Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care set up a National Audiology Review to look at Audiological Services for children and adults in health boards across Scotland. This was in response to a report published in December 2021 described errors in treatment provided to children by Paediatric Audiology in NHS Lothian.
As part of this, a Reference Group was established to ensure the voice of lived experience was central to the review. The Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland (the ALLIANCE) worked with the Reference Group to engage with people who had accessed audiology services. The engagement was designed to be inclusive and aimed to capture people’s experiences and views in ways that were convenient and accessible to them. The aim of the engagement was to help inform what services would look like in the future.
The ALLIANCE developed online surveys, held focus groups, one to one interviews and gave the option for people to share their experience by email or letter. The surveys, designed in collaboration with the Reference Group, were available in both written and BSL formats. Four surveys were designed to take account of the different groups of people who access audiology services. These were:
- Adults over the age of 18
- Children and families
- Young adults (aged 12 – 18)
- Healthcare professionals working with audiologists or access audiology services.
The ALLIANCE heard experiences, and views on what services should look like in the future, from people form across Scotland.
Analysis found common themes across all four surveys, focus groups, interviews and written statements.
- Accessibility
- communication
- relationships
- person centred care
- collaboration
- technology
- gaps in services
The ALLIANCE presented a full report and summary report of their findings to the Reference Group which in turn informed their contribution to the National Audiology Review Report and recommendations. A BSL video version is also available.
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