WHEN his hearing aid broke, David Seagrave thought that getting it repaired wouldn’t take more than a day or two.

Instead, the 62-year-old semi-retired IT engineer has been left unable to hear properly for over four weeks.

He has criticised Southampton’s new community ear, nose, throat (ENT) and audiology service, provided on the NHS locally by private company InHealth.

Mr Seagrave, of Regents Park, Southampton, said the delay means he cannot use his mobile phone, watch television or easily have conversations.

Previously, whenever he had a problem with his hearing aid, the married father-of-four went to the Royal South Hants Hospital, where it was either fixed on the spot or ready to collect the following day.

This time around he found himself having to phone InHealth’s patient referral centre, in High Wycombe, and was told that someone would repair his hearing aid over the phone within two days.

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Mr Seagrave said: “I knew it was not something that could be fixed remotely, but was told I still had to wait for the call.”

Finally, ten days after first reporting the problem, Mr Seagrave was given an appointment at Adelaide Health Centre, in Millbrook, Southampton.

He was then told he would need another appointment, but three weeks later has still not heard anything.

“The new service concerns me because there was nothing wrong with the old one,” said the father-of-four.

Southampton Primary Care Trust last month appointed InHealth to take over the city’s ENT and audiology service at the city’s Royal South Hants Hospital, the Adelaide Health Centre and the Weston Lane Centre for Healthy Living.

These services were previously provided by Southampton University Hospitals NHS Trust, and five of its staff have been transferred to InHealth.

Other patients have contacted the Daily Echo, complaining that:
● Their health records have not been transferred to InHealth
● Telephone numbers for information are always on answerphone
● Their appointments have been cancelled without explanation.

An InHealth spokesman said she could not comment on Mr Seagrave’s case.

However, she said the company had access to patients’ records, the telephone system was better, and a walk-in service and appointments were available for hearing aid repairs. She added all patients were being given new appointments with InHealth.

Dr David Paynton, locality commissioning director for Southampton PCT, said patient feedback had been taken on board and the trust was working with InHealth.