Information for referrers

Audiology – Hearing Care is a patient centred NHS audiology and hearing aid department based in Torbay, offering a comprehensive service for both adults and children at a number of community hospitals and clinics throughout the South Devon area.

What can we offer?

  • A nationally accredited service*
  • Low waiting times
  • Highly qualified and experienced staff
  • Direct referral assessments (AQP and complex adult assessments)
  • Current and high specification digital hearing aids programmed to Real Ear Measurement (REM)
  • Long term management and rehabilitation of the hearing impaired
  • Community clinics (Torbay Hospital, Newton Abbot Hospital, Dawlish Hospital, Teignmouth Hospital, Paignton Health and Wellbeing Centre, Totnes Hospital, Dartmouth Clinic and Brixham Hospital)
  • Complex care pathways
  • Comprehensive Audiological testing
  • Direct referral Audiology led Tinnitus Assessment
  • Tinnitus management
  • Multidisciplinary teams
  • Additional hearing equipment
UKAS
Audiology – Hearing Care is the first service in the South West to receive the internationally recognised UKAS accreditation.

*Audiology is the first service in the South West to receive the internationally recognised UKAS (United Kingdom Accreditation Service) accreditation. We were the first Audiology service to have this accreditation in the area and have maintained this nationally recognized accreditation year on year since 2014. This is a standard of assurance and confidence to all users, including patients and commissioners, that the service they receive is compliant with the latest international standards of practice. The accreditation covers a wide range of competences including consideration of the patient experience, efficient use of facilities and resources as well as ensuring excellent safety practices are embedded into the culture of the department.

Audiology – Hearing Care offers a comprehensive audiological service to adults and children and gives impartial, knowledgeable advice tailored to the patient’s specific hearing requirements.

We are a department of highly qualified Audiologists and Senior Assistant Audiologists. We are also a training centre for student audiologists. All our audiologists are qualified with a BSc in Audiology or equivalent and all are registered with the AHCS.

We offer a choice of current, good quality digital hearing aids based on the patient’s hearing level and personal needs. Should they choose to try a hearing aid we programme the aids using Real Ear Measurements and hearing prescriptions ensuring a sound tailored specifically to each individual patient. Most patients are seen within only a few weeks of initial assessment.

As a holistic and multidisciplinary service we have close links with ENT, community Sensory Teams, vestibular physiotherapy, Advisory Teachers of the hearing impaired and Cochlear Implant teams in Bristol.

Additional services include – tinnitus assessment & management, paediatric assessment & fitting, diagnostic Audiometry, OAE, ECochG & ABR, Bone Anchored Hearing Aids and vestibular assessment and management. Specialist complex needs audiologists allow comprehensive management for those with learning difficulties, dementia and complex hearing needs.

How to contact us

GP referrals can be made via the Direct Referral forms and for appointments for current hearing aid users at any of our clinics or for more information contact:

Audiology – Hearing Care main contact department is located at Torbay Hospital.

Audiology
Torbay Hospital
Outpatients
Level 2
Lowes Bridge
Torquay TQ2 7AA

Tel: 01803 656325
Email: Audiology – Hearing Care