A HEARING charity has called for health bosses to drop a proposal to cut hearing aids for people in mid Essex.

The Mid Essex Clinical Commissioning Group launched a public consultation earlier this month detailing plans to make more savings.

It wants to save £335,000 by not to routinely funding NHS hearing aids for people with mild hearing loss, as hearing aids are available on the high street.

But charity Action on Hearing Loss claims the withdrawal would leave some people unable to communicate with the outside world.

The charity has already provided clinical evidence to the North East Essex CCG which was also planning to restrict hearing aid provision.

The North East Essex CCG has now scrapped its plans to cut the service.

Action on Hearing Loss Chief Executive, Paul Breckell, said: “Costing the NHS only £90 each, hearing aids are the only tangible and cost effective treatment for mild hearing loss and they keep people in work and offer a lifeline to many who would otherwise be sat at home alone unable to communicate with the outside world.

“We are now urging Mid Essex CCG to abandon its own plans, which are currently under consultation, to restrict hearing aids for people with mild hearing loss and follow the decision made by their neighbouring CCG.

“We look forward to meeting both CCGs to offer our support and expertise to help ensure that people with hearing loss in Essex are provided with high quality access to hearing aid services.”

Mid Essex CCG is also looking to save £100,000 by cutting prescriptions for gluten-free food, £256,000 by axing vasectomies and female sterilisation and £1million by cutting referrals from GPs to physiotherapists.

To respond to the consultation visit midessexccg.nhs.uk.