Been told I need hearing aids but I am confused about referal

This is good news

Mine have Bluetooth connection too so I can answer calls and listen to music but sadly use batteries. Will ask next time I go regarding rechargeable hearing aids

I'm glad to hear it, so clearly the £200 charge WAS a mistake then.

As I said further up thread, from what the OP has told us, it sounds like she had her hearing test, but then someone from the Optician side of things told her that she'd have to pay £200 for the report to be sent. From what I read online, Specsavers DO charge £200 for a special test on the EYES to be sent to the GP, so it sounds to me like the person from the OPTICIAN side of things, doesn't know enough about the HEARING side of things, and I think that if the OP calls again, she will find it is all a mistake, because it says on the Specsavers website, that EVERYTHING to do with HEARING is free.

There is a slight issue of postcode lottery with NHS hearing aids, sadly. However - you absolutely should not be paying a penny either for the aids or in future for batteries etc.

The quality of the aids you are fitted with, and whether they are rechargeable etc or come with Bluetooth, will depend very much on your local health trust. But don’t pay anything at all upfront. You may not be able to avoid Specsavers but I have only ever been seen in an NHS clinic or more recently my local big hospital audiology dept.

My thoughts exactly.

Do not pay.

Go to GP and be referred.
Tell soecsavers that’s the referral in and do they want to test you again and you’ll make an appointment or would they like to use the test from the other day and prescribe accordingly.

job done.

For anyone reading this

Visit GP first who will refer you for a hearing test

Just get the GP referral sorted out first take it from there

No that isn't right same happened to me. Went to Specsavers they confirmed hearing loss and told me GP should have sent form over when they told me to come. They told GP the result and I also contacted GP to chase referral, they sent form to Specsavers. Went back for another appointment with Specsavers and got the hearing aids. No charge.

You can make an application under GDPR for your hearing test results from Specsavers and take them to GP if necessary. Doesn't cost £200, normally free although some organisations charge £10 for larger amounts of paperwork.

At my Specsavers I’m always being told the wrong information by someone on reception

Do not pay this £200

it is free on the NHS unless you’re getting super fancy ones you do not need

@ML5 so my experience with a family member was that the GP referred them, and then they were given an appointment with Specsavers. They were then given NHS hearing aids.

If I’d just made the appointment directly with them, it was classed as a private appointment but I think they are obliged to tell you that you meet the criteria for NHS aids - as otherwise you’ll spend £££ on something you could have received for free.

Also as someone else mentioned batteries are provided via the NHS but not if you buy privately (and these are quite expensive!).

Obviously the audiologist will be able to update you tomorrow and clarify. Worse case scenario you’ll have to have another hearing test and begin the process again.

Specsavers are a company with targets at the end of the day and there to make money. A similar thing was tried with me, I had a free eye test voucher through work, booked the appointment, when I attended I was required to be £xx amount for additional tests. I explained I just wanted a standard eye test and was told that was not “allowed”. So I left and found another option.

Well then what’s the issue

it is all free

(Oh and also, I don’t need batteries for my new NHS hearing aids, they come with a case that they recharge in overnight. And I can listen to audiobooks / music through them. And take calls)

This message, exactly.

I was told by an audiologist that GP surgeries often refer to outside providers (e.g specsavers) to cut down on waiting lists, BUT they charge the NHS more money for a below average hearing aid.

I took his advice, went to the GP, got referred to specsavers, refused the appointment, got a hospital appointment, got a fancy hearing aid. My co-worker went to specsavers (via GP referral) and got a crap one.

Ask to be referred to the NHS audiologist. They obvs know more about ears than specsavers anyway.

Now that I've seen this OP, it does seem likely that if you've been dealing with the opticians side of things, that's why they've said you need to pay the £200. I'd ring them tomorrow and check.

Did you not ask what the cost was before you booked whatever tests you requested and get a quote?

If they said it was free I’d be expecting it to be so.

Waiting lists are up to 3 years where I am 🫤

Sorry, just realised that information was to do with EYE tests, so apologise for any confusion, however the £200 is the same, so could someone at Specsavers have got confused?