Introduction

Gloucestershire Hearing Services serve a population of about 550,000 people and we currently provide support to six ENT consultants across the County. The service is based on two main sites: Cheltenham and Gloucester with 14 out-reach clinics throughout Gloucestershire. A wide range of services is offered including advanced diagnostic tests, direct GP referral clinics, domiciliary visits, Tinnitus clinics and community-based neonatal screening. We provide the full range of behind-the-ear analogue and digital NHS and commercial aids to adults and children. The department benefits from Hearing Therapy support.

Hearing Aids - Adults

The department has been modernised as part of the Modernising Hearing Aid Services (MHAS) and offers a wide range of behind-the-ear digital hearing aids.

Hearing assessments can be performed in one of our out-reach clinics, and fitting of digital hearing aids is provided at our two main sites, Cheltenham and Gloucester.

Hearing aid repairs for analogue aids are available throughout the County. For information on accessing the repair clinics, please, contact one of the main sites as follows:

Contact 08454 224119 for all East Gloucestershire repair clinics:

Cheltenham, Cirencester, Bourton-on-the-Water, Moreton-in-Marsh, Tewkesbury.

Contact 08454 228462 for all West Gloucestershire repair clinics:

Gloucester, Cinderford, Coleford, Lydney, Newent, Berkeley, Dursley, Cam, Wotton-Under-Edge, Tetbury, Stroud.

Digital aid wearers are required to make an appointment at one of the main sites for aid adjustments and programming changes.

Rehabilitation – Hearing Therapy

Hearing Services offer a full range of re-habilitation on the 2 main sites and at some out-reach clinics such as:

Deaf awareness, environmental aid assessment, Lip reading, etc…

For further information, please contact the following number:

Hearing Therapy Secretary: 08454 228463

Paediatric Service

Gloucestershire benefits from a well-established universal Neonatal Hearing Screening Programme run by Health Visitors. Referrals for further tests can be done at the 2 main sites.
School age Paediatric clinics take in a variety of centres; pre-school age clinics are held in the 2 main sites.

When necessary, children can be fitted with hearing aids at either of our main sites.
Children with sensory neural hearing losses and those with a long term conductive hearing loss are fitted under the Modernisation of Children Hearing Aid Services criteria and benefit from digital hearing aid fittings.

Hearing Services can offer help in specialist areas such as:

Tinnitus, Rehabilitation, Hearing Therapy, BAHA fitting, CROS aid fitting, Cochlear Implant after-fitting support, Balance re-habilitation…

The Team

Our team consists of a Head of Service, a Deputy Head of Service, a Paediatric Head Audiologist, 3 Specialist Audiologists, 8 Senior Audiologists, 2 Audiologists, 2 Hearing Therapists, 1 Senior Audiologist/ Hearing Therapist, 2 Audiology Assistants, 1 Clinic Co-ordinator, 1 Hearing Therapy Secretary and 3 Clerical Officers.

Opening Hours

Cheltenham:

For appointments:
From 09:00 to 12:30 and from 13:30 to 16:30, Monday to Friday.

For repairs:
Mondays from 13:30 to 16:00, Wednesdays and Fridays from 09:00 to 12:00.

Gloucester:

For appointments:
From 09:00 to 12:30 and from 13:30 to 16:30, Monday to Friday.

For repairs:
From 09:00 to 12:15 and from 13:30 to 16:30, Monday to Friday.

Batteries

Batteries can be obtained from the main centres as follows:

Cheltenham:
From the main East Block Entrance desk, usually from 09:30 to 16:30, Monday to Friday.

Gloucester:
From the Health Information Office from 10:00 till 16:00, Monday to Friday.

Please note that both desks are manned by Volunteers.

Batteries can also be obtained in out-reach clinics and GP surgeries across the County. For further information, please contact the above numbers.

Postal and Domiciliary Services

Hearing Services offer a postal service for repairs and batteries. For further information contact one of the main sites.

Home visits can be arranged when necessary. Your GP will be asked to request this from one of our main sites.

E-mail

Please send any e-mail comunication to Hearing.Services@glos.nhs.uk.

Further Information

• New investment to cut waiting list for digital hearing aids
  August 2007 Press Release