Minister for Health establishes National Hearing Care Plan Working Group

The Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly has established a National Hearing Care Plan Working Group.

The Hearing Care Plan Working Group will be jointly chaired by the Department of Health and the Health Service Executive (HSE). Membership of the Working Group is drawn from relevant stakeholders, including the Irish Society of Hearing Aid Audiologists, the Irish Academy of Audiology, and the Department of Social Protection.

The Hearing Care Plan Working Group will consider the current level of hearing care provision in Ireland, capacity constraints and opportunities within the HSE, and the appropriate linkage between public and private provision of care to maximise positive outcomes for patients. The Hearing Care Plan Working Group will draft a National Hearing Care Plan containing recommendations for the development of a holistic model of hearing care in Ireland.

Minister Donnelly said:

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has recommended that governments develop a comprehensive, integrated universal people-centred ear and hearing care plan within their national health care plan.

The Report further recommends that Ministries of Health:

• include people-centred ear and hearing care in universal health coverage
• strengthen health systems to deliver an integrated people-centred approach to ear and hearing care
• undertake awareness campaigns that address attitudes towards, and stigma related to, ear diseases and hearing loss
• determine targets, monitor national trends, and evaluate progress
• promote high-quality public health research on ear and hearing care

The Hearing Care Plan Working Group, established by the Minister for Health, and jointly chaired by the department and the HSE, will develop a National Hearing Care Plan which ensures appropriate regard to and is informed by, the WHO World Report on Hearing.

Hearing Care Plan Working Group: Terms of Reference

1. The rationale for a National Hearing Care Plan

The World Health Organisation’s (WHO) World Report on Hearing, published in March 2021[1] recommends that governments develop a comprehensive, integrated universal people-centred ear and hearing care plan within their national health care plan. The report further recommends that Ministries of Health:

• include people-centred ear and hearing care in universal health coverage
• strengthen health systems to deliver an integrated people-centred approach to ear and hearing care at all levels of care
• undertake awareness campaigns that address attitudes towards, and stigma related to, ear diseases and hearing loss
• determine targets, monitor national trends, and evaluate progress
• promote high-quality public health research on ear and hearing care

There is a need to develop a National Hearing Care Plan.

There are several reasons for this. There is increasing demand on public audiology services which has seen substantial growth in patient waiting times, as existing HSE capacity is not able to meet this demand. There is a need to integrate services in respect of the provision of audiology and to consider the potential for the wider use of capacity, including non-HSE capacity. Therefore, there is a need to develop a holistic hearing model of care, to consider the appropriate linkage between private and public provision of services, in the short-term and to make a multi-year plan for the provision of hearing care for the longer term.

The Working Group will consider the current level of hearing care provision, capacity constraints and opportunities within the HSE, and the appropriate linkage between public and private provision of care before making recommendations regarding holistic hearing care. The input of several stakeholders, including external providers, will be sought to ensure that the recommendations made are comprehensive.

2. Overall objective of the Hearing Care Plan Working Group

The Working Group will develop a National Hearing Care Plan. The Plan will include recommendations regarding how to develop a holistic model of care for the diagnosis and treatment of hearing loss in the Irish population. This will require input from a range of stakeholders. A priority focus of this will be the appropriate linkage of public and private provision to meet increasing demand for services in the short-term. The Group will also consider the recommendations of the WHO World Report on Hearing in the development of the National Hearing Care Plan. It will ensure a particular emphasis and analysis on the current integration of the H.E.A.R.I.N.G. package[2] into the health service along with opportunities and options for its further integration having regard to recommendations 1 and 2 of the WHO Report and population needs.

3. Structure and Membership of the Working Group

The Hearing Care Plan Working Group will be co-chaired by the Department of Health and the HSE. The Working Group will have representation from the following organisations:

• the Department of Social Protection
• Irish College of General Practitioners
• the Irish Society of Hearing Aid Audiologists
• the Irish Academy of Audiology

The Working Group will invite submissions from various relevant stakeholders.[3]

4. Matters in Scope for the Working Group

The Working Group will:

1. Agree priorities in the first instance with the recognition that there is a need to improve access to services in the adult population.

1.1 As a priority, the Group will prepare, within two months of its commencement, an analysis and costed proposals to improve capacity and enhance access to adult services as an interim measure.

1.2 In the context of this proposal, the Group will also consider opportunities to enhance the productivity and efficiency of existing services with a view to maximising existing capacity.

2. Consider current provision, including constraints and deficiencies.

3. Consider the need for more public information on hearing care.

4. Consider the overlap of provision of care by the HSE furnished under the Treatment Benefit Scheme and whether these can be streamlined for the respective cohort.

5. Consider the international picture and best practice in the provision of hearing care.

6. Scope out the requirements of a national Hearing Care Plan from a clinical perspective.

7. Consider submissions made by relevant stakeholders and agree how this can be incorporated into the National Hearing Care Plan, as appropriate.

8. Develop a National Hearing Care Plan which ensures appropriate regard to. and is informed by. the WHO World Report on Hearing.

9. Provide regular updates as required, including preliminary recommendations for consideration.

10. Provide advice regarding the potential for, and impediments to, the operational implementation of any recommendations that come under consideration.

11. Present a draft costed Hearing Care Plan and a recommended prioritisation framework to the Minister for Health for approval, after appropriate incorporation of feedback from relevant stakeholders.

5. Ways of Working and final report

The Working Group will ensure the following during its work:

• it will convene every month, or more frequently, if required
• where possible materials will be distributed in advance and members will come prepared to discuss and provide recommendations
• experts in a particular area, who are not members of the Group, may be invited to make submissions and/or presentations to the Group as appropriate
• the secretariat will circulate agreed actions to members within a reasonable time period after the meeting
• members will nominate a representative on their behalf if unable to attend meetings, subject to approval of the Chairs
• the Working Group may establish Subgroups, as needed, and as agreed, to progress other elements of work that may be needed to inform the development of the Plan
• the Working Group will present initial recommendations to the Minister for Health prior to the Estimates process for Budget 2025
• the Working Group will complete a draft national Hearing Care Plan by the end of Q2 2025

[1] https://www.who.int/teams/noncommunicable-diseases/sensory-functions-disability-and-rehabilitation/highlighting-priorities-for-ear-and-hearing-care

[2] WHO recommended a package of interventions, including hearing screening and intervention; ear disease prevention and management; access to technologies; rehabilitation services; improved communication; noise reduction; and greater community engagement.

[3] Including agencies that represent patients and/or the parents/carers of patients.