Did you know that Specsavers can look after ears as well as eyes?
As a qualified hearcare provider, Specsavers clinicians can offer a range of hearing services nationally including assessment and fitting of hearing aids (private and NHS provision), earwax removal and a range of accessories, advice and support.*
Our services are offered from our high street locations, many of which offer a seven-day a week service provision, allowing choice and convenience to our customers and patients nationally.
Specsavers and the NHS
We are committed to offering exceptionally high standards of quality, clinical expertise and care to all our customers and patients.
As a community audiology provider, we have been offering NHS services since 2006. We are currently commissioned to provide NHS services to 30 ICBs and see more than 200,000 new NHS patients a year.
Specsavers is committed to delivering a service based on NHS core principles, providing care that is free at the point of delivery and based on clinical need, not the ability to pay.
We are accredited by the NHS to provide adult hearing care and hearing aids under 52 contracts across England.
Specsavers offers a high standard of clinical expertise and flexibility of service to its customers:
- Appointments at flexible times
- A maximum 16-day referral-to-treatment service
- Referral process through the established e-referral system and two-way DBS making it easier for GPs to see availability
- Accessible service on the high street, seven days a week and close to home
- Replacement hearing aid batteries available locally and can also be delivered by post delivery service if required
- Feedback provided to GPs following consultation, and recommendations for further treatment/investigation as necessary
- Our stores have extended opening hours that offer after-care support, including drop-in clinics for routine repairs such as hearing aid cleaning and new batteries
Earwax removal
Specsavers also provides a earwax removal service. The favoured method of earwax removal is now micro-suction which previously was only carried out in a hospital ENT department. Some ICBs now offer earwax removal as a commissioned service in the community, so it is worth checking to see what is available in your local store. Specsavers offers micro suction as a private service in most high street stores.
In terms of referring patients for earwax removal, if you have a clear view of the tympanic membrane and any earwax is minimal and light in colour, then there is usually no need to refer. These patients can usually self manage their wax by getting ear drops from their local pharmacist. However, if the earwax is compounded and dark in colour then a referral to an earwax removal provider would be recommended.
*NHS and earwax removal services may not be available in all areas. Please use the postcode eligibility checker to find out if you are eligible for NHS services.
Specsavers supports Dementia Friends
Specsavers employees nationwide are becoming Dementia Friends, an initiative run by the Alzheimer’s Society. The majority of our stores have at least one team member who is a Dementia Friend and understands the needs of customers with dementia a little more.
Dr Nigel Best, Specsavers clinical spokesperson, says: ‘People with dementia may not be able to recognise or articulate the issues that many of us face when we begin to lose our sight or hearing – but the effects are the same. Being more aware of dementia is an incredibly positive development for our teams and our offering to customers.’