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

[ML5]

Hi everyone
Went to get a hearing test yesterday and was told by Audiologist at Specsavers that I need hearing aids in both ears 😔. Audiologist then explained to me to contact my Drs as I’m eligible on NHS for hearing aids and for them to do a E Referral back to them for me to get my appointment and free hearing aids. All well and good I contacted my Drs and explained to them the situation and they are just now awaiting the paperwork from my Audiologist. But here’s the confusion part - The store today said that I have to pay £200 for Drs to receive my paperwork (audiologist was not in today) but the audiologist didn’t say this and neither did the Drs. Audiologist is going to phone me tomorrow morning. Should I mention to her that Drs are awaiting paperwork or not?
Thanks everyone hope I’ve made it clear

Also I thought you don’t pay on the NHS for anything

Is it for specsavers to send paperwork to your GP? I believe that as they are providing audiology services privately rather than on the NHS you probably would need to pay for the paperwork to be processed

It’s all being done on the NHS and audiologist at Specsavers told me I pay nothing as I’m on the NHS and Drs do the referal and give me appointment. Just confused because Drs didn’t say I pay they said they waiting paperwork.

You don't have to pay for NHS heating aids.

Yes I know that but it’s about the paperwork. Audiologist & my Drs didn’t mention a paperwork payment of £200 the Opticians at the store told me today (Audiologist was not in today)

You shouldn't have to pay anything.

SpecSavers told me to go to my GP first and arrange for them to tell SS I needed an appointment. I did that and then got free hearing aids from SS. I didn't see an audiologist until they got the letter from my GP, though. I was firmly told to contact my GP first.

Drs did say the whole referal takes about a week.

https://www.specsavers.co.uk/hearing/hearing-aids/nhs-hearing-aids#:~:text=Specsavers%20is%20accredited%20by%2030%20Integrated%20Care,including%20the%20fitting%20of%20NHS%20hearing%20aids.&text=The%20service%20is%20fully%20funded%20by%20the,by%20our%20fully%20trained%20and%20experienced%20audiologists.

Check if you’re in the right area for Specsavers to be undertaking assessments On behalf of the NHS.

Bypass specsavers and ask your GP to do a nhs referral. You will then get seen at the nhs hearing dept and they will test you and provide you with hearing aid. You will then get a nhs audiologist booklet which entitles you to free hearing aid batteries when you need them. If you get the hearing aids from specsavers you will have to purchase batteries from them

Edited due to spelling errors due to fat fingers!

I just Google why Specsaver might charge you £200 OP, and this is what came up"

Specsavers is likely asking for £200 to cover the cost of an Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) scan and the associated report and referral to your GP, which is a service they offer but is not typically covered by the NHS. This scan provides a more detailed look at your eye health than a standard eye test and can be helpful in identifying potential issues that may require further investigation.

I'd imagine that's classed as extra services, therefore payment would be required.

Oops! Not sure how I added the quote, but the post is the same OP

Yes I am in right area I have looked this up already and Audiologist confirmed this as well

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?

Just to clarify- I am getting the hearing aids done on NHS for free but it’s the paperwork that has caused me confusion as according to ONLY the opticians at Specsavers and NOT Drs/Audiologists I pay £200

Possibly I think there could be

Waiting lists are up to 3 years where I am 🫤

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.

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.

When I went to Specsavers they did me the hearing test which showed I have moderate hearing loss and need hearing aids in both ears and to contact my Drs to explain this and for them to do referal and I am eligible on nhs. Drs have my information and are awaiting paperwork from audiologist.

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.

Of course I did. I was told it was all free and I pay nothing

(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)

Well then what’s the issue

it is all free

@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.