A GREAT-grandmother from Abergavenny who faced an 18-month wait for a hearing test has now been treated after her MP intervened.

Phyllis James wears two hearing aids but was left unable to hear properly when they become ineffective.

The 89-year-old was referred to Newport’s Royal Gwent Hospital July 16 last year, following a visit to the open access hearing aid repair clinic at Nevill Hall Hospital in Abergavenny. She was still awaiting an appointment over a year later.

Monmouth MP David Davies raised Mrs James’ case with both Aneurin Bevan University Health Board and Welsh Health Minister Vaughan Gething, who were unable to help.

Mr Davies then discovered that in England, the NHS has dramatically reduced waiting times for hearing assessments and hearing aids by using qualified community audiologists, many of whom are based in local opticians.

He said, "Opticians are not just about eyes. Increasingly, they offer other services including dealing with hearing problems.

"In England, community audiologists are contracted to provide hearing aid services to NHS patients. It saves the NHS a large amount of money and means patients can be quickly treated.

"Mrs James is in failing health with restricted mobility. She told me playing with her great-children is the only thing worth living for. Yet the problem with her hearing was severely affecting her ability to interact with them or get involved in conversations."

After learning about the plight of Mrs James, the National Community Hearing Association (NCHA) - the sector body that represents all community audiologists providing NHS services in the UK - offered to help.

NCHA put Mrs James in touch with Specsavers, which fitted her with two new hearing aids at its Monmouth store.

"I am really looking forward to playing with my great-grandchildren again and I am extremely grateful to Specsavers and Mr Davies for arranging this," said Mrs James.

Mr Davies said, "Huge numbers of people who are currently waiting for hearing aids in Wales could benefit from a scheme similar to the one being run in England which allows independent community audiologists to fit them."

Stephen McAndrew, Director of NHS Services at Specsavers, added, "Hearing loss sadly brings problems of loneliness and depression and an increased risk of accidents. Early treatment of hearing loss is also likely to be far more effective for the patient. We were pleased to be able to help Mrs James to show what we can do and it would be great if NHS Wales considered using companies like ours."