NHS will still fund hearing aid batteries

A partially deaf Grantham man was told that after ten years, he would have to start paying for his hearing aid batteries.

Matthew Wilson suffered a brain tumour which was removed, but a valve had to be fitted in one of his ears after it lost its hearing. The 41-year-old had been receiving free batteries from Grantham Hospital until he was told to start collecting them from Specsaver s in Grantham.

Matthew says they told him that because he was aged under 50, he would have to pay. The cost would be just a few pounds, which he could easily afford but he was unhappy as the new charge came without any warning.

“There’s also the principle. I accept removing my tumour was expensive but I have paid into the NHS all my life.”

Matthew then said he would speak to the Patient Advice and Liaison Service about the matter.

A spokesman for United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust, which runs Grantham Hospital, told the Journal he had spoken to PALS and “there seems to be a bit of confusion.”

“Things did change slightly last year it seems, but he should not be paying for these. One of the PALS team is contacting him to explain that if he goes through the Pilgrim hospital audiology team – they can sort it for him and he won’t have to pay.”

Matthew confirmed afterwards that Pilgrim Hospital would send him free batteries through the post. Specsavers would also tell under 50s to contact Pilgrim Hospital.