Following the launch in 2016 of Commissioning Services for People with Hearing Loss: A framework for Clinical Commissioning groups, Fiona Carragher, Deputy Chief Scientific Officer will join a range of partners from the health, charity and social care sector, to update on progress to date, including updates on:

• How CCGs across the country have used the Hearing Loss Commissioning Framework to support improved commissioning
• The development of the new ‘Joint Strategic Needs Toolkit’ which can provide CCGs and local authority commissioners with the accurate data they need to plan their hearing services;
• Reviewing draft  ‘What Works’ guidance (due to published later this year) which aims to better support those with hearing loss by offering service providers and commissioners supportive information and case studies for best practice;
  Hearing loss affects 1 in 6 of the population, approximately 10 million  with the number affected  expected to grow to 1 in 5 of population by 2031.

Chief Scientific Officer, Sue Hill said: “As part of the World Hearing Day 2017, I would like to celebrate the progress being made to improve services for children and adults with hearing loss and the positive impact this is having on their health and wellbeing, and their ability to participate in society.

“I would like to acknowledge the ongoing efforts and achievements of all those individuals and organisations working alongside NHS England to further improve services. This includes action on early diagnosis and prevention of hearing loss, helping people to live well with hearing loss, and research and innovation in hearing loss services.”

The aim of this year’s World Hearing Day is to draw attention to the economic impact of hearing loss and the cost effectiveness of interventions to address the issue.

The event was shown live on NHS England’s website. The Action Plan on Hearing Loss Event takes place at Prospero House, 241 Borough High Street, London SE1 1GA.