Audiology Improvement Collaborative

Hearing loss can have a significant impact on a person’s quality of life, including their physical health, mental wellbeing and social connections. It is one of the leading causes of years lived with disability for people aged over 50.

Audiology services play a vital role in diagnosing hearing loss and associated conditions. They also provide support and therapy to help people maintain good sensory health and live well.

The Audiology Improvement Collaborative works alongside audiology services to improve pathways and access to care. The programme helps teams make sustainable changes within their own services while sharing learning with colleagues across England.

Impact at a glance

Participating audiology services reported positive experiences of our programme, alongside measurable improvements in waiting list performance.

100%

of participating sites felt the programme met its overall aims

100%

of participating sites found the programme useful

100%

of participating sites improved their DM01 position

Improvements made by participating services

University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust

The service reduced its waiting list by 382 patients and more than doubled the number of patients removed from the waiting list each week.

The number of audiologists trained to provide counselling also tripled, increasing capacity and reducing the need for follow-up appointments. These changes contributed to a 27% improvement in the service’s DM01 results.

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Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust

The team redesigned its processes and improved communication across the service, helping appointments to be allocated more quickly. Patient surveys also showed consistently high levels of satisfaction. Patients highlighted the clear explanations they received, the support provided by staff and the welcoming clinic environment. The service achieved a 12% improvement in its DM01 results.

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Somerset NHS Foundation Trust

A trial of self-referral into the service demonstrated significant benefits for patients.

Feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with patients reporting better communication, shorter waits and greater convenience because they did not need to seek a GP referral first. The service also achieved a 12% improvement in its DM01 results.

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What is the Audiology Improvement Collaborative?

If your service is facing long waits, pressure across the pathway or challenges turning improvement ideas into lasting change, the Audiology Improvement Collaborative can help.

Over 12 months, your team will work with NHS Elect to use local data, identify where improvements could make the biggest difference and test practical changes within your service. The programme is open to paediatric, adult and combined audiology teams.

You will receive quality improvement coaching, practical resources and opportunities to learn with other audiology services. Your team will also be supported to measure the impact of its work and share what has been learned with participating services across England.

What's included?

Joining the Audiology Improvement Collaborative gives teams the support, practical resources and professional connections needed to make lasting improvements within their services.

12 months of support

including QI coaching, webinars, and peer learning.

Practical tools

SPC templates, pathway mapping guides, and patient experience resources.

Collaborative network

a safe space to test, learn, and improve stroke pathways.

Skills and confidence

strengthen data use and patient engagement capabilities.

National learning events

two face-to-face sessions, and two virtual sessions, to share experiences, explore data, and drive improvement together.

Testimonials

“I just want to say a massive thank you for giving me the privilege to be able to speak with so many talented people, it was lovely to see so many people having similar yet different experiences on the project”.

Audiology Improvement Collaborative participant

“This has provided a turning point in the delivery of audiology services and the future is exciting”.

Audiology Improvement Collaborative participant

Clinical leadership guide

If you're interested in leading an improvement project or joining the audiology collaborative, take a look at our Clinical Leadership Guide, featuring top tips from Professor Simon Conroy - from knowing yourself and building trust, to creating a shared vision and leading with courage.

Download guide

Could your audiology service benefit from taking part?

The collaborative will help your team identify where change is needed, test practical improvements and learn from other audiology services across England. Please get in touch for a friendly conversation about how the programme can help you.

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