Preseli Pembrokeshire AM Paul Davies is spearheading a campaign aimed at reducing a three-year waiting list for hearing aid tests in the county.
Mr Davies has highlighted the case of a ninety-year-old woman who has been waiting two years for her hearing aid to be tested. She’s now been told that she faces another twelve-month wait to be seen.
The AM has also been approached by an 85-year-old facing a similar wait.
And he has now been contacted by two Haverfordwest Lip Reading Classes which have gathered a petition calling for the waiting list to be cut.
“I was pleased to accept a copy of the petition which has already been sent to the Local Health Board,” said Mr Davies, pictured receiving the documentation from the group.
“It is totally unacceptable that people are having to wait this long to get their aids tested.
“I understand that the problem is with the follow-up service for existing hearing aids, not the initial consultations.
“I am also calling on Edwina Hart, the Welsh Health Minister, and the LHB to tell us what action plan is currently in place to tackle this.
“I’d like to see some targets and a detailed action plan drawn up as to how they are going to get them down, not some vague promises.”
A member of the lip reading class, Nikki Bosworth, has been told she will have to wait three years for a retest for a new hearing aid.
“That is fairly standard in Pembrokeshire,” she said. “Our complaint is that in Carmarthenshire, under the same health board, there is only a three month wait.”
Richard Williams, Director of RNID Cymru, said: “This is important because from time to time hearing aid users need refitting or reassessment to make sure their equipment is still giving them the support they need.
“Many of our members in Pembrokeshire are affected by this situation and we feel it is unacceptable to have to wait three years for this kind of appointment.
“This has an impact on the ability of deaf or hard of hearing people to communicate, which could mean they are unable to communicate with their colleagues, friends and family which means that they may end up socially isolated, frustrated or depressed, or even have to give up working early.
“RNID Cymru would like to see new targets brought in to ensure hard of hearing people are not left waiting like this for such vital services and we are working with the Minister for Health and Social Services on this issue.”
