NHS Lanarkshire’s Hamilton open access hearing aid service is moving from Princes Gate to Douglas Street Community Health Clinic from Monday 15 March 2010.
The service allows patients to drop in without an appointment from 1.30pm to 4pm on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
The open access hearing aid service in Hamilton is open to patients throughout Lanarkshire, but most patients who use it come from Hamilton, Blantyre, Motherwell, Uddingston and Carfin.
June Gilmour, Deputy Head of Audiology, said: “We are moving the service to Douglas Street as it offers a better environment for patients who are waiting to be seen. The waiting area is much larger and this should improve the experience for patients attending the service.
“Staff at the open access service can help with batteries, tubing, impressions and ear moulds as well as giving advice to patients. Patients attending walk in clinics will be seen in turn so may have a while to wait depending on how busy it is on the day. If required, a further appointment can be made for hearing aid adjustment. ”
Following the move, the open access service will no longer be available at Princes Gate, in Castle Street, Hamilton. Other audiology services will continue to be provided at Princes Gate by appointment.
The open access hearing aid service is also available from the following locations:
Hairmyres Hospital
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday 9.30-11.30am and Tuesday 2-4pm
Stonehouse Hospital
Thursday 9.30-11.30am
Wishaw General
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 9.30-11.30am
Monklands Hospital
Monday to Thursday 2–4pm
Central Health Centre Cumbernauld
Monday 9.30-11.30am
Around 80,000 people in Lanarkshire use NHS hearing aids. The move to Douglas Street is the latest improvement to NHS Lanarkshire’s Audiology Services. In August last year the service introduced a new system to make it easier for people to obtain replacement hearing aid batteries.
These can now be collected from the reception area at the following locations:
- Audiology, Princes Gate, Hamilton
- Blantyre Health Centre
- Lanark Heath Centre
- Carluke Health Centre
- Hunter Health Centre, East Kilbride
- Greenhills Health Centre, East Kilbride
- Strathaven Health Centre
- Motherwell Health Centre
- Wishaw Health Centre
- Shotts Health Centre
- Viewpark Health Centre
- Bellshill Health Centre
- Coatbridge Health Centre
- Airdrie Health Centre
- Central Health Centre, Cumbernauld
- Kilsyth Health Centre
A postal service is also available from Audiology Services:
Princes Gate
60 Castle Street
Hamilton
ML3 6BU
Patients using the service should post in their old batteries to ensure the correct size is sent out, along with a note of address for return. Alternatively, patients can telephone Princes Gate on 01698 281 500 to ask for replacements to be posted out.