A Bolton MP is backing a campaign that is 'very close to her heart' to bring hearing tests to high streets. Yasmin Qureshi, MP for Bolton South and Walkden, has struggled with her hearing for most of her life and is backing a campaign to move audiology to a primary care system, which would allow patients to access hearing tests on high streets, in a similar way to eye tests. With waiting times as long as 20 months for audiology appointments, Ms Qureshi said the issue cannot be ignored and argued that a self-referral system would reduce pressures on hospitals.
Ms Qureshi said: “This is an issue very close to my heart, I have been having problems with my ears and hearing loss for many, many years. “And the first time I had an ear graft was when I was aged 17, so both of my ears have challenges. Yasmin Qureshi MP speaking at a campaign event (Image: Office of Yasmin Qureshi MP) “I think it was only a few months ago that I truly felt the impact, when I was sitting in the House of Commons chamber, waiting to be called and the Speaker actually did call me out but I managed to mishear him.
“So I know through my own first-hand experience that the impact of unaddressed hearing loss is profound. “It impacts employment, complicates communication and social interactions, often leading to social isolation and loneliness.” Specsavers, which is leading the campaign, said the proposed new system would free up to 500,000 GP appointments a year and enable patients to be seen within.