For the past 8 years, Specsavers has revolutionised the hearing aid market by offering patients a wide choice of behind-the-ear and in-the-ear hearing aids, all of which use the best technology. This has given patients greater control over how and where they access expert treatment. Throughout 2009 – 2010, Specsavers serviced NHS contracts with leading PCTs and cared for over 10,000 NHS Audiology patients. This figure will continue to rise in 2011, as Specsavers helps even more commissioners to find innovative ways of delivering high quality care while making important savings.

Local professionals deliver higher standards

The reason for Specsavers’ success lies in the way we run our company. Our family-owned business aims to provide high quality eye and hearing care, delivered locally by clinician-led practices. Our ‘joint venture’ structure means that our stores and community-based services are owned and run by locally-based professionals – optometrists and hearing aid audiologists. This unique business structure allied with our high clinical standards, professionalism, training programmes and investment in technology – including the latest hearing assessment equipment – mean our joint venture partners can focus on providing the highest standards of customer care at sensible, affordable prices. And with over 440 Hearing Centres based within our optical stores, Specsavers can be easily accessed on high streets across the UK.

A trusted service for GPs and their patients

Our dedicated NHS Hearcare Team and local hearing aid audiologists visit GP practices to provide information and advice to GPs and their staff on every aspect of hearing care and the service we provide on behalf of the NHS. In addition, we are always available to discuss patients’ requirements and the progress of their treatment with us – for this reason, our patient help desk offers support 365 days a year. We can also provide patients’ audiograms as required. We recognise that the process of obtaining a hearing aid can be a daunting and stressful one for some people. So we make every effort to ensure patients referred to us are well informed of the choices available to them, which is why Specsavers is registered on N3 Choose and Book. Our continued investment in the NHS infrastructure enables us to provide a friendly, patient-centric service. Once a patient has been referred to us, one of our locally-based hearing aid audiologists will discuss the process with them so that they can feel completely confident that they are getting the best hearing care available to them.

Digital hearing for all

Modern digital hearing aids now provide significant benefits to the user. All NHS-specified instruments are programmable, which enables us to provide a much more accurate fitting. We believe that patients should be involved in the choice of instrument they receive, to ensure they get the most appropriate NHS-specified model available to them. All assessment, fitting, follow up, service, repairs and aftercare for the life of the hearing aids is completed on a local basis and with over 440 Hearing Centres up and down the UK, Specsavers is well-placed to provide everyone with a truly local service. In addition to our Hearing Centres, we also work out of community health centres, hospitals and GP practices.

*Source: Reader’s Digest Trusted Brands Survey 2011.