This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Major audiology boost for Scotland
14/02/2005
A BSc in Audiology is to be offered to students in
Scotland for the first time, it was announced today.
Deputy Health Minister Rhona Brankin made the
announcement as she opened a new state-of-the-art audiology
unit at Lorn & Islands Hospital in Oban.
Ms Brankin said:
"I am delighted to announce that Queen Margaret
University College (QMUC) will be offering a BSc in
Audiology in the next academic year.
"One of the specific challenges facing the audiology
service in Scotland is a shortage of qualified staff. The
new BSc course will really help to address this issue by
training 25 students each year.
"I am also pleased to announce that a two-year fast
track conversion course for existing science graduates will
be offered and will train a further 20 post-graduate
students each year.
"The Executive is fully committed to the modernisation
of hearing aid services and I am pleased that I can be here
in Oban to officially open this new audiology unit. I am
very impressed by the modern facilities and the hi-tech
equipment that is available to patients.
"Some 730,000 adults in Scotland suffer from hearing
impairment at present and this is likely to increase in the
future as the population gets older.
"We want to provide every single one of these people
with a hearing aid that adequately meets their individual
needs. We also want to ensure that the fitting and
follow-up service they receive means the hearing aid
effectively deals with their condition.
"Excellent progress is being made towards providing a
modernised audiology service in Scotland. It is very
encouraging to see so many positive results after only
fourteen months of a four-year modernisation project. I
look forward to seeing further improvements in the near
future."
The BSc in Audiology has been awarded to QMUC in
collaboration with Highlands & Islands University and
Robert Gordon University.
The Audiology Services Modernisation Project Board
allocated NHS Argyll & Clyde £300,000 to fund the new
audiology unit at Lorn & Islands Hospital.
£17 million central funding is being made available over
the period 2003/04 - 2006/07. General allocations to NHS
Boards will be increased in 2006/07 and in following years,
to recognise the additional recurrent expenditure
associated with operating a modernised service.
In 2006/07 and 2007/08 the increase will be ring fenced
for the operation/improvement of a modernised audiology
service. The increased general allocation will be £5.5
million per year.
Achievements to date:
- Project manager appointed to facilitate and
co-ordinate modernisation activity throughout
Scotland.
- NHS Boards have developed initial modernisation
action plans for hearing aid services based on the
recommendations in the report. Most centres are now
fitting digital aids to a limited extent - with a few
offering this service to a significant proportion of
patients.
- NHS Boards have established local audiology working
groups to inform local policy.
- £2.8 million allocated to NHS Boards in December
2003 for modernisation work in 2003/4 and a further £3
million in May 2004.
- Training in the fitting of children's hearing aids
for selected staff from each Scottish audiology service
provided by Manchester University in December
2003.
- All Heads of Audiology Service have attended
centrally provided leadership training.
- 60 MTO grade audiologists have attended centrally
provided training on modernised procedures and the use
of associated equipment and IT.
- Audiology Services Advisory Group established to
inform and monitor service development.
- Guidance on candidacy for hearing aids issued as
HDL in April 2004.
- Fully modernised audiology unit opened at
Crosshouse Hospital in Kilmarnock in December
2004.