Improve access to community audiology, parliamentarians urged

Gordon Harrison, Specsavers’ Chief Audiologist addressed Peers, MPs, policymakers and industry leaders at the House of Lords yesterday, Wednesday 4 February.

Speaking at the launch of Tinnitus UK’s latest research report – which centres on live music and tinnitus – he called for improved access to audiology services in the community, and an end to the postcode lottery of care.

“We know that hearing health is vital to quality of life, our economy and productivity. It keeps us connected to society, our work, the things we enjoy – like music – and the people we care about.

“Health Secretary Wes Streeting has highlighted the role that high street providers, including Specsavers, can play in delivering the 10 Year Health Plan. Hearing services are leading the shift from hospital to community care, from treatment to prevention, and from analogue to digitally enabled devices.

“But the reality is that NHS hearing services provided in the community will vary depending on where you live. Access is inconsistent leading to health inequality. Audiologists in the community have the clinical expertise and the capacity to deliver great NHS hearing care everywhere – making services easier to access for patients and reducing pressure on GPs.”

Tinnitus UK gathered insights from across the music world, from industry professionals and gigging artists to dedicated fans and festival-goers, to shape a major industry-wide campaign on hearing health and safer listening.

Key findings of the Amplifying Awareness report include:

1 in 7 people have tinnitus.
Consumers in the UK spend £6.68 billion on live music.
Hearing damage linked to live music is preventable, but it is placing avoidable pressure on the NHS.
92% of fans experience tinnitus after live music events.
Nearly 1 in 5 people now live with permanent hearing loss.
93% of workers have experienced hearing problems from working or performing at live music events.
81% of live music workers receive no training on hearing safety.
59% of live music workers reported experiencing permanent tinnitus.

Tinnitus UK is calling for:

Safer music venues for staff and audiences by clearly following appropriate hearing safety guidance, and by providing practical toolkits, guidelines, and training for venue operators.
Safer working conditions, including appropriate hearing protection, noise monitoring, and training; hearing loss should never be part of the job.
The normalisation of hearing protection at live music. Wearing earplugs should be as routine as wearing seatbelts; driven by public-health campaigns and visible leadership from artists, DJs, and influencers.
The government to set clear, enforceable standards on sound levels, hearing protection, and training, ensuring they are monitored and enforced to protect workers and audiences alike.

Background Information

Download Tinnitus UK’s Amplifying Awareness report at https://tinnitus.org.uk/news-list/tinnitus-uk-launch-new-report/

Download Specsavers’ Access to Care report at Access to Care Report 2025 | Specsavers UK