Today, on World Hearing Day, Senedd Member Joel James MS, has once again, called for community audiology services to be available on our high streets.
Speaking in the Chamber, Joel said:
Hearing loss already affects nearly 600,000 adults in Wales, and I have to declare an interest—as you know, I'm one of them—and it's a figure that will invariably rise as our population grows older. For many people, hearing loss is not simply an inconvenience; it can lead to isolation, loneliness, reduced independence and declining mental health. Left untreated, it is also associated with an increased risk of cognitive decline.
The Member also highlighted that timely access to assessment and treatment is not a luxury, it is a necessity. Joel welcomed the Welsh Government's future approach for audiology framework but raised concern that the framework currently excludes the community audiology sector, despite the fact that around 94 per cent of hearing loss cases are age-related and can be managed safely from a high-street setting.
With this in mind, Joel asked for a statement from the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care on how the Welsh Government intends to address rising waiting times, and whether existing high-street audiology provision can be better integrated into NHS pathways and in a new framework to ensure patients receive the accessible community-based care that they need.
Speaking outside the Chamber, Joel said:
Happy World Hearing Day!
Hearing loss affects nearly 600,000 adults in Wales, and I am one of them.
For many people, hearing loss is not simply an inconvenience. It can lead to isolation, loneliness, reduced independence, and declining mental health.
Community audiology services need to be available on our high streets to relieve pressure on hospital services and waiting lists – something I’ve been calling for the Welsh Government to action for years and did so again today.
To watch Joel's Senedd contribution in full, please click here.
