Children's hearing services halted over safety

All school age children in Blackpool will be affected by the immediate suspension of services

Concerns over safety have led to children's hearing services in Blackpool being suspended, pending an in-depth review.

As part of that investigation, all youngsters treated by the service over the past five years will now be reviewed.

A previous inspection found serious safety failings including under-qualified staff and missing equipment.

Services have been halted immediately, affecting children under three in acute care and children under four in community services, along with all school services.

The concerns were first sparked after an initial assessment via the nationwide Improving Quality in Physiological Services standards, which was then followed by a visit by the local integrated care board.

It has led to the creation of a task force which is looking into an action plan as part of the five-year review.

Families who need audiology support while services are suspended will be seen by the audiology service at Blackpool Victoria Hospital, the trust says

The children's audiology service is run by the Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Blackpool Victoria Hospital, but it is managed by a nursing team based at St Anne's Primary Care Centre.

Blackpool Teaching Hospitals said it had begun a review of paediatric audiology services as part of a national improvement programme, after issues were found in services nationally.

"We have taken the decision to pause our community-based children's hearing services in Blackpool while we review cases to understand whether any of our patients may need further assessment and this work is ongoing," a spokesperson said.

They said families of any children believed to need further assessment would be contacted "in coming weeks".

"We're sorry for any concerns that families and carers may have. This will take a little time but we are determined to get this right for patients," they added.

"In the meantime, whilst the community children's service is paused, families who need audiology support will be seen by the audiology service at Blackpool Victoria Hospital to make sure they get the help they need."

The latest developments follow a nationally-led investigation which has seen NHS hearing services in children's departments across England being scrutinised in 2023 and 2024 after concerns were raised about the standard of children's hearing services in both England and Scotland.