Norman Lamb MP launches new community hearing clinics

North Norfolk MP and Health Minister Norman Lamb will be launching two new community hearing clinics with the Norfolk Deaf Association today (15th April).

New facilities include two dedicated, specially built clinic rooms in the NDA’s new headquarters in Thorpe Road which will be staffed by Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital (NNUH) experts.  One of the rooms houses a hearing test booth so that hearing testing can be conducted to the highest standards. 

Expert audiologists from the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital  will provide the service from the NDA premises five days a week, including hearing assessment, hearing aid fitting and follow- up appointments and re-assessment of existing hearing aid users.   There will also be a new NDA mobile clinic, funded by the Big Lottery Fund, based at Holden’s Renault garage in Norwich.

Health Minister Norman Lamb MP, says:  “Effective diagnosis and support for those suffering from hearing loss can have a profound impact on people’s quality of life, and in particular on their confidence, and their ability to maintain social interaction. It is a pleasure to open these two new community clinics and the mobile clinic, and to see such excellent facilities provided for local people with hearing loss.”

Aliona Laker, Chief Executive Officer of the Norfolk Deaf Association, says: “We wanted to offer a complete service to patients, starting with a hearing assessment and following up with the full range of support services we are offering to people with hearing loss in Norfolk. We are delighted that this is now possible working in partnership with the audiologists from the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital. This service is available without visiting the hospital and provides easily accessible premises in a community, non-hospital environment.

“NDA's mobile clinic takes our hearing support service straight to the heart of the Norfolk community, reaching many towns and villages as well as sheltered houses, nursing and residential homes.  So, anyone who is wearing NHS hearing aid and who requires help with their maintenance or any other advice and support about hearing loss can access our help very close to their homes.”

Dr John Fitzgerald, Head of Audiology at NNUH, says: “We will be providing our full range of standard hearing aids from the NDA premises and patients can expect to be seen within a week of referral from their GP.  There will be expert assessment and advice from our experienced audiologists and we are delighted to be working with the Norfolk Deaf Association.”

The NDA provides a range of support, including a befriending service, hearing support service, a tinnitus support group, deaf awareness training and a hard of hearing club. For more information, go to: www.norfolkdeaf.org.uk