What is the Welsh Government doing to reduce waiting times for audiology services in the Hywel Dda University Health Board area?
Audiology waits in Hywel Dda University Health Board have increased over the past 12 months and are not where we, the NHS or the public want them to be.
The Welsh Government is holding workshops with service users and partners to develop a Future Approach to Audiology plan for Wales, which will support the NHS to remodel service provision to improve access for all pathways.
This will focus on three key elements – to further enhance integrated health and social care; to develop and review clinical pathways for all audiology services (specifically direct access to primary care hearing services), and across to ENT and to develop local and national key messages, communication and campaigns.
Future Approach will provide value-based healthcare, reduce the demand on hospital ENT and GPs and to deliver better audiology services, improved access and improved outcomes.