Friday 28 February 2025
Internal Reference Number: FOI_8425
Date Request Received: 05/02/2025 00:00:00
Date Request Replied To: 13/02/2025 00:00:00
This response was sent via: By Email
Request Summary: NHS Adult Hearing – Private Practice & Non-NHS Revenue
Request Category: Private Individuals
| Question Number 1: NHS Adult Hearing – Private Practice & Non-NHS Revenue The details I require are: Does your NHS Adult Hearing service receive any Non-NHS revenue either directly from patients, in commission or in products or discount from manufactures, third party sellers online or otherwise? For the avoidance of doubt this should include hearing aids or devices, Bluetooth enable devices, TV streamers, hearing aid remote controls or any other peripherals. If yes, then please list volumes/values per annum or if this is not available, then please provide the budgeted value in your trusts financial forecast for years 2023/24 and if available 2024/25. | |
| Answer To Question 1: The term non-NHS revenue is difficult. The audiology department does receive private patient revenue which is NHS revenue in that the private patient room and procedure fees generated by private practice are fed back into the department, via the Trust. So ultimately it may be private practice revenue but as far as our Audiology budget is concerned it's coming from the Trust. We receive revenue directly from patients for lost hearing aid administrative charges and for swim plugs which we do not fund on the NHS. We do not receive commission or benefit in kind in terms of products on any of the devices we fit or recommend. Regarding manufacturer discount - from a clinician perspective we receive our hearing aids at a contractual price, the price may be discounted from list price depending on % share of how many of that particular manufacturer's hearing aids we fit. The hearing aid selection process is beyond the scope of this answer but there is a robust process in which the contract goes out to tender and recommendations are made depending on features, patient experience, integration with existing infrastructure etc. | |
| Question Number 2: Do any of the professional audiologists delivering NHS services on behalf of the Trust work in private practice? If yes, have they declared to the Trust that this is a potential conflict of interest? | |
| Answer To Question 2: Some of the audiologists do work in private practice. All conflict of interest declarations have been made. | |
| Question Number 3: Have you received any patient, customer or service user complaints that mention the purchase or supply of any of the following? Hearing aids or devices, Bluetooth enabled devices, TV streamers, hearing aid remote controls or any other peripherals. If yes, please list the number and nature of the complaint/complaints | |
| Answer To Question 3: No | |
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Our staff at Salisbury District Hospital have long been well regarded for the quality of care and treatment they provide for our patients and for their innovation, commitment and professionalism. This has been recognised in a wide range of achievements and it is reflected in our award of NHS Foundation Trust status. This is afforded to hospitals that provide the highest standards of care.
