Audiology at Queen's Hospital Burton

The audiology department at Queen’s Hospital Burton, provides a comprehensive service for those who have difficulties with their hearing or tinnitus.

We are an extensive team of specialist audiologists and audiology assistant practitioners, who deal with all aspects of hearing and tinnitus related care.

We assess patients with hearing difficulties and support them through each stage of their treatment; from initial assessment, to hearing aid fitting, and follow-up care. This may be through either face to face appointments, or via telephone or virtual consultations. Please inform us beforehand if there is anything we can do to accommodate your needs better during your appointment, or if an interpreter may be required.

We also have a team of tinnitus specialists who provide support and rehabilitation to those patients who are adversely affected by their tinnitus. There are a number of ways this can be achieved; examples include counselling, hearing aids, sound therapy, and combination devices which are hearing aids with a built in noise generator. Every patient’s treatment path is unique to them, and tailor made to help ease the difficulties they face in regard to their tinnitus.


Clinics

We run a number of clinics across the area, these include:
 

  • Queens Hospital, Burton
     
  • Sir Robert Peel Hospital, Tamworth
     
  • Samuel Johnson Hospital, Lichfield
     
  • Balance Street GP Surgery, Uttoxeter
     
  • Swadlincote Health Centre, Civic Way

 

Book your appointment through Swiftqueue

Patients who attend Queen's Hospital Burton for hearing aid service appointments can now book their appointments through Swiftqueue.

Once you have created or logged into your account, please click on the 'book appointment' button, and follow the steps to complete your appointment.

Access Swiftqueue (opens in new window) >

If you need support using Swiftqueue, please email uhdb.burtonhearingaidcentre@nhs.net. 

 

Contact Information

Audiology Queens Hospital
Reception B, Floor 1
Belvedere Road
Burton on Trent
DE13 0RB

Email: uhdb.burtonhearingaidcentre@nhs.net
Telephone: 01283 593014
Mobile: 07974254314 (text messages only)

Useful links


Hearing aids with moulds


Hearing aids with thin tubes
 

Listening to music with hearing aids


Managing your hearing loss


Subject Access Requests


Wearing masks with hearing aids


Cochlear Implants

Bluetooth hearing aids

If you have been advised that the hearing aid that you will be fitted with is compatible with your smartphone/tablet, and are interested in using this feature, it would be advisable to download the appropriate app prior to your appointment – your audiologist will inform you of which app to download.

Please note that suitability for these hearing aids will also depend on the type and level of hearing loss.


Danalogic Ambio aids


Oticon Engage/Xceed


Phonak Nova/Naida aids

Video consultations

Due to the Coronavirus outbreak we have had to make changes to the way we provide our services to limit the amount of people and time spent in the hospital. We are now able to offer ‘remote’ online video consultations.

Get information on our video consultations >

Video consultation is as convenient as a phone call with the added value of face to face communication.  It can save you time and money (by not having to travel to and from appointments) and bring care closer to home. There are a number of appointments that can be carried out through video calling, but if you require a hearing test, impressions for new moulds or in some circumstances a repair/service then we would arrange an appointment for you at one of our sites. 

Hearing aid repairs and servicing

We offer a:
 

  • Booked repair service – Please contact the Audiology Office at Queens Hospital via telephone or email to arrange an appointment.
     
  • Postal repair service - You can post your hearing aids to the Audiology department at Queens Hospital, Burton. We would then inform you when the repair is complete and post it back to you or advise you to collect it.
     
  • Drop off repair service - You can drop your hearing aids off at either the Audiology department at Queen's Hospital (there is a box at Reception for hearings aids to be left in), Outpatients reception at Samuel Johnson Community Hospital, or the Minor Injuries reception at Sir Robert Peel Community Hospital Monday to Friday between 9am and 4pm. We will then contact you once your hearing aids have been repaired and are ready to collect.


If all you require is a tube change and feel you would be able to do this yourself, please refer to the "Ordering tubing and batteries for your hearing aids" section (below) for a form that you can complete, to request the appropriate tubing for your aid(s). You can find instructions on how to re-tube under Useful links.

Please note that you will only be able to see an audiology assistant practitioner or audiologist at any of our sites, by booked appointment only. This is so that we can allocate the correct amount of time, as well as consider other factors.

Ordering tubing and batteries for your hearing aid(s)

It is now possible to order replacement tubes, domes and batteries. Simply download and fill in our Audiology Tubing or Battery Request Form, and return it to uhdb.burtonhearingaidcentre@nhs.net .  If you would like instructions on how to change the tubing, please make a note of this on the request form. We will then post out the tubes and batteries as required.


Battery collection points

Batteries can be collected locally, free of charge, from the places listed below:

  • PCP Pharmacy, 30 Hospital St, Tamworth
  • Queen's Hospital, Burton (ground floor helpdesk or Audiology reception, opposite Reception B)
  • Samuel Johnson Hospital, Lichfield (helpdesk opposite main entrance or Outpatients reception)
  • Sir Robert Peel Hospital, Tamworth (Minor injuries reception)
  • Swadlincote Health Centre, Civic Way
  • Uttoxeter Health Centre,  Balance Street
  • Winshill Medical Centre, Melbourne Avenue


GP surgeries (their registered patients only):

  • Abbots Bromley Surgery
  • Alrewas Surgery
  • Barton Under Needwood Family Practice
  • Castle Medical Group, Ashby
  • Cloisters Medical Practice
  • Hill St. Health & Wellbeing Centre, Stapenhill
  • Measham Medical Centre
  • Peel Croft Surgery, Lichfield St, Burton
  • Salters Meadow, Burntwood
  • Stretton Medical Centre
  • Trent Meadows Practice, Branston
  • Tutbury & Dove River Practice, Tutbury
  • The Westgate Practice
  • Wellbrook Medical Centre, Hilton
  • Willington Surgery
  • Dr Yannamani & Dr Khare Practice (Stoneydelph)
  • Yoxall Health Centre

The Loop System and Environmental aids

loop system icon The Loop System (also called the Telecoil or the “T” setting) can be activated on your hearing aid on request, and acts alongside the volume switch.

The Loop System can be found in many public places, for example the Post Office, bank, church, cinema or theatre. Some telephones also have one. Where you see the sign you should press the button on your hearing aid to activate the Loop System. It can make it much easier to hear in places where the speaker can be a long way away (i.e. in the church), or where there is a lot of noise (i.e. in the Post Office or bank).


Environmental aids

A hearing aid can help you hear many things in and around the house, but even with its help, you may find that you have some remaining problems.

There are a number of products available for sale which could help with things such as:

  • Hearing the television
  • Alarm clocks
  • Listening to music
  • Using the telephone
  • Using a mobile phone

We can also provide a self-referral form for Social Services to assess any Assistive Listening Devices to help you around the home (e.g. a loop system for the television, vibrating pad for under your pillow for the smoke alarm or flashing light for your doorbell).

Please contact the audiology department for more information.

Hearing aid accessories

Additional accessories can be purchased to assist your hearing aids, to help you in challenging hearing situations. Please refer to the leaflets below for additional information on what is available. Accessories from different manufacturers cannot be used.

Accessories can be purchased directly through the manufacturer, through the department, or by visiting the Connevans website (opens in new window) > where you will also find other assistive listening devices.

If you have hearing difficulties at work, you may be entitled to hearing aid accessories or other support through the ‘Access to Work’ scheme. Please refer to the "Additional support" section below for further information.

PVP Shunts, Pacemakers and ICDs

PVP Shunts

A PVP (programmable ventriculo-peritoneal) shunt is a device implanted in the back of the head in the area of the mastoid bone, to drain a build-up of fluid in the brain. Some are programmable – known as PVP shunts. PVP shunts have a magnetically adjustable valve placed under the skin, so that they can be adjusted by an external control magnet if required.

Some audiology equipment and hearing aid devices, including Cochlear implants, some earphones, bone conductors and otoacoustic emission probes generate a magnetic field, and this means there may be a risk of unintentionally adjusting the shunt. This does not mean that we will not be able to assess or treat you; the latest guidance from the British Society of Audiology is that this equipment must be kept at least 5cm from the shunt at all times, and we are able to adapt our hearing tests and appointments to comply with this.

Please let us know prior to or at the beginning of your appointment if you do have a PVP shunt, so that we can safely adapt the appointment to avoid altering it.

Guidance correct at time of writing (9.5.2022)


Pacemakers and ICDs

Pacemakers and Implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) are small, implantable medical devices for the heart.

A pacemaker helps control abnormal heart rhythms by creating electrical pulses to prompt the heart to beat at a normal rate, whereas an ICD monitors and helps regulate potentially fast and life-threatening electrical problems with the heart. ). Most new ICDs can act as both a pacemaker and a defibrillator and can also record the heart's electrical patterns when there is an abnormal heartbeat.

Some of the equipment that we use during our appointments can affect the workings of both of these devices, if placed very close by. The current recommendation is to keep a distance of at least 15cm between the implanted device and any relevant equipment.

Please inform us if you have either of these devices so that we can we can ensure that no interference occurs during your appointment.

Please see below for more information on what may affect your pacemaker or ICD; please note that this advice may vary for devices by different manufacturers.

If you have any queries regarding other medically implanted devices, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Guidance correct at time of writing (9.5.2022)


Download ElectroMagnetic Compatability Chart [pdf] 186KB (opens in new window) >

Remote care

We will be commencing a new remote service for those patients who have Danalogic Ambio, Phonak Nova, or Oticon Engage/Xceed hearing aids, and have a compatible smartphone or tablet with access to the relevant app (please refer to Useful links above to download the app and for more information on how to use it).

This remote service will allow you to connect with your audiologist in real time through the app for a virtual appointment, during which you can request fine tuning for your hearing aids. The audiologist will make the fine tuning adjustments you require during the session and send them to you through the app; you will then be able to download the changes on to your hearing aids.

Please refer to the links below for further information:


Phonak hearing aids (refer to pages 16-17)


Oticon hearing aids


GN Danalogic Ambio hearing aids


Please note that remote care appointments will have to be pre-arranged as with all other types of appointments.

Additional Support

Telephone helplines

South Staffordshire urgent mental health helpline
Telephone: 0808 196 3002 

Staffordshire Mental Health Helpline
Telephone:0808 800 2234 
Operates 7pm-2am (weekdays), 2pm-2am (weekends)

Samaritans
Telephone: 116 123
Available 24/7

SANEline
07984 967 708
A professional or senior volunteer will call you back as soon as possible.

Shout
Text "SHOUT" to 85258 for confidential 24/7 crisis text support for times when you need immediate assistance.


Online support


Access to Work

If you feel that your hearing loss is affecting you in your work environment, the Access to Work scheme may be able to provide you with accessories or other forms of help to assist you in your workplace.

Please visit the GOV.UK website (opens in new window) > for more information.

Accessibility Resources

British Sign Language

Access 999 BSL website for UK Emergency Video Relay Service (opens in new window) >


Useful apps