COVID 19

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted even more the importance of staying connected whether that’s by phone, conference call or video. Leek Hearing Centre has essential service classification. We want to do everything possible to keep everyone communicating. We remain open and have put together the following protocol so that we are able to provide essential audiological care.

Following the ‘Audiology and Otology Guidance During Covid-19’ published by the UK’s audiology professional bodies, we are doing everything we can to ensure we all remain as safe as possible.

Please be considerate when making an appointment and do not put yourself or others at risk. If you are displaying any of the symptoms of COVID-19, please do not attend the practice. We are happy to reschedule once it is safe to do so.

Main symptoms are

High temperature – this means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to take your temperature).

A new, persistent cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours (if you usually have a cough, it may be worse than usual).

A loss or change to your sense of smell or taste – this means you’ve noticed you cannot smell or taste anything, or things smell or taste different to normal.

In order to protect our team, our patients and families, we will refuse to see any patient who is deemed at risk or who may pose a risk to our team. We will only provide services that are in the best clinical interests of our patients.

Throughout all of this we are always trying to do the right thing and we ask you to be patient with us during this extraordinary time. We will only book appointments over the phone. We will not be able to see patients who walk into the practice.

Booking Procedure

Before booking your appointment, we will ask some questions to ensure that you/others in your household do not have any symptoms of COVID-19.

We will contact you prior to your appointment to take your history and answer any questions you may have as well as sending you a consent form to read and sign before attending your appointment.

We cannot have people waiting in the practice, we have a strict ‘one in and one out’ policy. Please only attend the practice at the agreed appointment time. If you are early, then please wait outside or in your car.

We will space out our appointments, allowing time to thoroughly clean down and avoid cross over of patients attending the practice.

Please do not bring anyone with you to your appointment unless requested or if you require support for medical/physical reasons.

When you enter the practice

• Please wear a properly fitting face covering when attending your appointment.
• The audiologist will meet you in reception wearing recommended PPE.
• You must use hand sanitiser and we will check your temperature.

We ordinarily love to chat with our patients, but in the interest of safety this will need to be kept to a minimum.

Payment

• Ear wax removal: £60.00
• If you attend but, after examination, your ears are clear: £25.00
• Additional appointments: £25.00

We would like to remind our patients that the audiologist will be using all necessary PPE. We have allocated twice as much time per patient to ensure all recommended additional safety measures are taken. Additionally there is a full clean down of the clinic undertaken after each appointment.

We do appreciate your patience and understanding at this time.

Clare Kewney

Chief Audiologist