What the average waiting time is to see a hearing specialist in the last year, broken down by NHS board.

The way audiology services are provided has continued to change over the last year with many more boards now offering a one stop clinic service. This means that some patients receive their consultation and where appropriate are fitted with a hearing aid or start any treatment in the one visit.
The following information provides the median wait for patients who received a first contact appointment with a hearing specialist for each quarter of 2011, by NHS board. Information has also been provided showing the median wait for patients who were seen by a hearing specialist at a one-stop clinic for each quarter in 2011, by NHS board.
Median Wait for Patients Seen at a First Contact Appointment for Quarters Ending March, June, September and December 2011
NHS Board
March 2011
(Weeks)
June 2011
(Weeks)
Sept 2011
(Weeks)
Dec 2011
(Weeks)
Ayrshire and Arran
x
x
x
x
Borders
9
4
6
9
Dumfries and Galloway
19
7
6
4
Fife(a)
5
5
8
4
Forth Valley
23
12
8
12
Grampian
7
7
8
8
Greater Glasgow and Clyde(b)
6
6
5
4
Highland
8
10
9
6
Lanarkshire
3
5
3
4
Lothian
6
9
7
6
Orkney
2
1
2
2
Shetland(c)
7
10
7
10
Tayside
31
19
13
13
Western Isles(c)
29
17
7
6

Median Wait for Patients Seen at a One-Stop Clinics for Quarters Ending March, June, September and December 2011
NHS Board
March 2011
(Weeks)
June 2011
(Weeks)
Sept 2011
(Weeks)
Dec 2011
(Weeks)
Ayrshire and Arran
x
x
x
x
Borders
7
5
5
6
Dumfries and Galloway
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
Fifea
13
12
12
12
Forth Valleyd
SP
SP
SP
SP
Grampian
SP
SP
SP
SP
Greater Glasgow and Clyde
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
Highland
SP
SP
11
8
Lanarkshire
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
Lothiane
SP
SP
SP
7
Orkney
SP
SP
SP
SP
Shetland
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
Tayside
37
21
13
13
Western Isles
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
Source: ISD Scotland.
Notes:
X Data not available.
SP Service provided but patients’ waits reported as first contact appointment.
n/a one-stop clinic service not provided.
(a) NHS Fife only record paediatric patients’ wait for a first outpatient contact appointment. All adult patients are seen at one stop clinics.
(b)Clyde data is not available for quarters March and June 2011 due to system issues.
(c) Provide audiology services for adults only.
(d) NHS Forth Valley started recording adult patients seen at a one-stop clinic in November 2011 and data is still under development.
(e) Provide a one-stop service for a small number of paediatric patients only.