Audiology services to return to community hospital

Audiology services are returning to Dorking Community Services on Monday

Audiology services are returning to a Surrey hospital, after being moved to South West London earlier this year.

Surrey Heartlands Health and Care Partnership says the service will return from Kingston-upon-Thames to Dorking Community Hospital from Monday.

It said the decision was made because of the longer travel times patients were facing.

The move has been welcomed by Dorking and Horley MP Chris Coghlan.

The service will now be provided by Dorking Healthcare in partnership with First Community Health and Care, a local NHS community healthcare provider.

Jack Wagstaff, executive director for strategic commissioning at the Integrated Care Board (ICB) said: "Ever since the service had to relocate to Kingston, we have been working proactively with Kingston & Richmond NHS Foundation Trust and other local partners to find an alternative provider to deliver this important service locally.

"We recognise the difficulties experienced by patients with longer travel times to Kingston and would like to thank people for their understanding over the past months."

Mr Coghlan said: "This impacted hundreds of my constituents so I ran a petition and brought in local media to put pressure on the ICB to bring this crucial service back.

"This is great news, and many people have already got in touch telling me that they're very glad they no longer have to struggle with getting to Kingston to access this crucial service."

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