Hearing services review launched after health board’s ‘horrendous’ errors
The review comes after an audit of NHS Lothian’s services found that children had been identified as deaf years after they should have been.
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A review has been launched by the Scottish Government into audiology services for children and adults across the country.
The review, which will be chaired independently, comes after mistakes by NHS Lothian in its paediatric audiology department were branded “horrendous” by a charity.
An audit of the health board’s services found significant failures in 155 of the 1,113 patients treated between 2009 and 2018 which led to children being identified as deaf years later than they should have.
The Scottish Government has said that further assessment of audiology services has “highlighted areas of improvement” that need to be addressed.
I want to make sure our hearing services are fit for purpose across Scotland and this means ensuring any wider issues are identified and rectified
Health Secretary, Humza Yousaf said: “Following the unacceptable failures that were highlighted in paediatric audiology in NHS Lothian, I want to make sure our hearing services are fit for purpose across Scotland and this means ensuring any wider issues are identified and rectified.
“The first step of this is to appoint an independent chair, a process which will be undertaken as quickly as possible to provide the necessary leadership and oversight for this important piece of work.
“I will provide a further update detailing the remit of the review, its membership and timetable for reporting once an appointment has been made.”