Audiology services in Torbay and South Devon have maintained full accreditation for their service from the United Kingdom Accreditation Services (UKAS).
Audiology refers to the range of services available to support people with a hearing need and the UKAS accreditation provides recognition that this service is safe, has competent practice and is able to deliver a high quality service to patients. It assesses services against the IQIPS (Improving Quality in Physiological Services) standard and covers assessments in four key areas including safety, workforce and facilities, patient and clinical. The Trust has to submit evidence every year of how they meet the standards and the audiology department receives a visit from the UKAS assessment team every two years.
Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust, who run audiology services in the area, were the first service in the South West to receive accreditation back in 2014 and this year’s report commended the service on the exceptional skills of the staff to tailor their patient focus for each appointment.
The report highlights the following:
· How reactive the service is to patients and listens to feedback
· Good control of policies, procedures, and checklists
· High levels of patient satisfaction with the service
· Training compliance
· Patient focused service
The accreditation applies to every aspect of the service including paediatrics and adults complex and routine services that are run from Newton Abbot, Totnes, Dawlish and Brixham Community Hospitals, and Dartmouth, Teignmouth and Paignton Health and Wellbeing Centres, as well as Torbay Hospital.
Claire Rockett, Head of Audiology services at Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust said: “We are absolutely delighted to have received full accreditation again this year. Lots of work goes into to getting the accreditation and the process has its challenges. It involves all our team being committed to meeting, maintaining and improving standards of patient care and safety and being able to evidence this.
“Everyone in the service works tirelessly to ensure we maintain our accreditation status and I am incredibly proud of the work that they do.
“The accreditation provides our patients with a high level of confidence in our ability to deliver a service that is patient focused, safe and delivers a high quality service.”
The accreditation from UKAS can be gained by any private or public sector organisation providing testing, inspection and calibration services.
Dr Laura Booth, Assessment Manager from UKAS said: “The assessment teams that have been involved in the accreditation process for this service are impressed with the passion for patient care, the service innovation and the persistent drive for continual service improvement.”
The audiology service is completely free and provides people with impartial advice tailored to their own specific hearing needs. All patients are offered an assessment appointment within 20 days of referral. The audiology service can be contacted on 01803 656325 or please visitwww.torbayandsouthdevon.nhs.uk for more information.
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