AN innovative partnership between Somerset NHS Foundation Trust’s audiology service and RNID means more people across Somerset are benefiting from easier access to hearing care.

The success of the approach has now been recognised with a Hospital to Community Award at the South West Healthcare Science Awards 2026.

Over the past five years, demand for hearing aid maintenance and repair services has increased by 155 percent, prompting the team to rethink how support is delivered.

Working closely with RNID (Royal National Institute for Deaf People), routine hearing aid support has moved from acute hospital settings into the local community, making it easier for patients to access help closer to home while freeing up specialist hospital capacity for more complex care.

Audiology manager at Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, Emma Ralph, said: “At the heart of this work has been a commitment to listening to our patients and adapting services around what matters most to them.

“We know that travelling to hospital can be difficult for many people, particularly those living in rural communities, so we wanted to make hearing care more accessible and convenient while maintaining the highest standards of support.

"By working in partnership with RNID, we’ve been able to bring services much closer to where people live, helping people get the support they need more quickly and reducing barriers to care.”

The service now offers a network of community-based support across Somerset, including dedicated NHS audiology repair clinics alongside RNID drop-in sessions and access to an online hearing check.

The expansion has led to a more than 50 percent increase in capacity within community repair clinics compared with previous hospital-based provision.

Eight RNID community services and eight NHS audiology repair clinics have been established across Somerset, supported by nearly 30 RNID volunteers.

Director of health at RNID, Crystal Rolfe, said: “We are delighted to be working in partnership with NHS Somerset to bring hearing care closer to people’s homes across Somerset completely free of charge through our RNID Near You local support services.

“Undiagnosed hearing loss can lead to people feeling more isolated and less able to participate in everyday life.

“Having easy access to specialist advice, information and hearing aid maintenance in the local community has huge benefits to people’s wellbeing, helping them to feel more connected and independent.

“We would like to say a huge thank you to our dedicated volunteers whose time, skills and compassion are making a real difference to the over 170,000 people in Somerset who are deaf or have hearing loss.”

The number of patients accessing community-based support has also grown significantly, reflecting both the demand for the service and the benefits of receiving care closer to home.

The team's work was recognised by judges at the South West Healthcare Science Awards, with the award highlighting the success of a service transformation built around patient need, partnership working and continuous improvement.

Emma Ralph added: “The award reflects the dedication and commitment of our audiology colleagues and RNID volunteers, who’ve embraced new ways of working while remaining focused on delivering the very best care for patients.”