NHS Audiology Department or Specsavers?

I have booked an NHS appointment with my local Specsavers. The wait is only a couple of weeks - quicker than getting a GP appointment! The nearest Audiology service in a NHS Health Centre is quite a long awkward journey so this seemed perfect.

I went into the Specsavers branch to enquire about an NHS appointment. I gave my details and someone from their local office called me to book an appointment a couple of days later.

I am absolutely delighted with my husband's NHS hearing aids. He was referred very quickly to an audiologist who visits all our local surgeries (West Yorkshire). The following up care is brilliant. I order batteries and tubes online or by phone. When he was having hearing problems they called him in, checked his hearing aids and then syringed his ears. . I cannot tell you how happy I was, let alone him.......

NHS appointment for hearing aids are 20 months here, there’s no way I could carry on waiting so I went to Specsavers and paid privately.
I couldn’t be more delighted with my aids.

A friend went to the audiology dept and now uses the mobile unit for his updates or any problems. I hadn’t heard of the mobile unit until he mentioned it, he says it is excellent.

My husband went to Specsavers and they said there was nothing wrong with his hearing I disagreed as living with him was hell he couldn’t hear the most minimum of conversations. He then got referral to audiology and they said he needed two it saved our marriage! 😂 I now need one and going back to the audiologist to see them at the local hospital.

I always attended my local audiology department in my local hospital, and had my NHS hearing aids from them. Then I moved in 2019. Asked if my audiology record could be transferred over to local hospital audiology and was told 'NO'/ Due to all the privatisation, each health authority was now a separate trust. So , had to start again, with referral from my new GP to Audiology.

I was then given an option of attending hospital audiology department, (two miles away from my flat), or Spec Savers (just around the corner - five minutes away on my mobility scooter). Was given an appointment there within a week.

Very suspicious - but excellent treatment and full test took place. I was on tenterhooks, waiting from them to try to sell to me their private aids - but they were never mentioned and I was supplied with NHS ones. Was recalled after two years for further tests, and new aids, etc. Very easy for me to get my (free) batteries as they are so close to , also I can pop in to have tubes changed.

Elegran

If you have any doubts over whether you will have to pay for hearing aids in Specsavers, or whether you get them there under the NHS, then the answer is simple - when you phone for an appointment you JUST ASK.

If you already get your eyes tested there, you should know already that you choose the frames for the glasses from a wide selection at various prices - from free NHS up to designer frames. From the posts on here, it seems to me that they supply hearing aids under the the same system.

It's not the same system as spectacles. Free hearing tests are available to all but free (NHS) hearing aids are only available in certain health authority areas. Ask for advice at Specsavers or enter your GPs postcode in the link below. I have no choice but NHS and the waiting times in my area are extremely long even for existing users (18 mos- 2 years)
www.specsavers.co.uk/hearing/hearing-aids/nhs-hearing-aids

If you have any doubts over whether you will have to pay for hearing aids in Specsavers, or whether you get them there under the NHS, then the answer is simple - when you phone for an appointment you JUST ASK.

If you already get your eyes tested there, you should know already that you choose the frames for the glasses from a wide selection at various prices - from free NHS up to designer frames. From the posts on here, it seems to me that they supply hearing aids under the the same system.

Sarnia

When I needed a hearing test my GP told me to go to Specsavers as the wait was much shorter but not, under any circumstances, agree to buy hearing aids from them. I was asked to get the hearing test results and take them into the surgery. My GP would have a look at them and if she thought I needed hearing aids she would refer me to the NHS. The aids were almost identical to Specsavers and free as opposed to £2000 charged by the opticians.

How recent was this?

I attend the audiology department at my local hospital in Torbay where I have excellent service. At my last appointment, I was supplied with aids which have bluetooth facility linked to my smart phone. They are brilliant as I can adjust reception according to my environment, change the volume, sharpness and direction via the App and, best of all, receive calls really clearly hands free directly to my hearing aids! All available from the NHS without charge, including batteries, replacement tubing, servicing, etc. Wonderful!

Specsavers do NOT charge for the hearing aids and it is appalling that the doctor gave you false information. Specsavers are agents for the NHS and everything is free - consultation, aids, batteries in perpetuity etc.

You can of course choose to buy aids from Specsavers because they also stock private ones. All you have to do is go to Specsavers and opt for the free NHS ones. They are the same - just free.

Specsavers took 10 days from referral to fitting - brilliant! But it may depend on the waiting list in your area.

I have the impression generally that the NHS audiology department is slower.

When I needed a hearing test my GP told me to go to Specsavers as the wait was much shorter but not, under any circumstances, agree to buy hearing aids from them. I was asked to get the hearing test results and take them into the surgery. My GP would have a look at them and if she thought I needed hearing aids she would refer me to the NHS. The aids were almost identical to Specsavers and free as opposed to £2000 charged by the opticians.

Here is the link to NHS audiology provided free by Specsavers. If you enter your GP's postcode you can see if it's available in your area.
www.specsavers.co.uk/hearing/hearing-aids/nhs-hearing-aids?ds_rl=1293573&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwvvmzBhA2EiwAtHVrb3MJjp1Q9-tBIKt2WefqKYc7iRRM4dJAcK4tI51FWdansIwn0htiahoCu1UQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

Specsavers you have to pay for hearing aids and any repairs. NHS you get for free. If I need hearing aid I will go NHS . My dad did and hit his batteries for free and they serviced and cleaned his hearing aids. This was 2004-2007 he died that year. My mother in law paid private for her 2 hearing aids in 1990 and had to pay for batteries ,service and repairs up until she died in 2015. Cosy her a lot of money over the years.

My local Specsavers does not do NHS, only private hearing tests/ aids.
I had a free hearing test there snd from that day onwards, I have tinnitus. Coincidence?

I had my nhs hearing aids from Specsavers and also get myfreebatteries from them. It is my local Specsavers which h is about 5 miles away. I was very happy with the service.

DH tried both Specsavers and Boots and Boots came out the better of the two for private hearing aids . Have to say they are expensive but worth the money if your hearing is poor.

On my own personal experience I would go to Specsavers. I've always had great experience with them, nothing is too much trouble. On the other hand, having waited over 7 months for an appointment with my audiology department, they ran a few tests and said they couldn't offer me anything. I went back to Specsavers and got some super new Bluetooth hearing aids (on the NHS). Do be aware though, that Specsavers are all independently run, so the branches do vary.

For me it would be where l could get the earliest appointment. I think they both supply the same NHS digital aids. I don't have the option of using an independent audiologist in my health authority and the waiting list is horrendous.

I did go to specsavers and bought their hearing aid and it was expensive. It was tiny and I was told if I lost it I would need to pay for another one. I was told I could try it for a few weeks and if I didn't like it I could get a refund. I was going into my car one day and i noticed my hearing aid was missing. I searched the car and thankfully found it. The thought of buying another expensive one gave me a shock so I decided to get a refund. Thankfully this happened inside the few weeks trial. I now have an NHS one and am happy with it

My F-i-L had excellent (NHS) service from his local specsavers, I travel a bit further to audiology dept but I'm also under ENT there, & sometimes the appointments need to mesh in, so that's the only reason I go to audiology rather than specsavers NHS.

Dh has had aids from Specsavers but is now waiting for an NHS referral. Opinion seems to be that the aids supplied by SS are not as good as ones the NHS prescribe and that the NHS follow-up service is better. That’s possibly a local issue, not countrywide, so ask around.

I picked up my private ones from Specsavers at the weekend and like my NHS ones, I can get a free replacement for anything within 4 years.

We all go to Scrivens.

Dad and I have NHS aids, everything is free.
When we need new batteries I phone a request in and they come through the post.

My husband has chosen to have all-singing all-dancing private aids, for which he pays!

I'd suggest trying the NHS ones to start with and see if they suit you.
You can always have private ones later if you want to.