THE SNP have pledged to move hearing tests and hearing aid fittings from the clinic to the high street if elected in May.
The SNP health secretary, Neil Gray, said the move will bring about more support for hearing loss checks and hearing aid fittings while increasing access to essential tests.
The party says the measure would shift the diagnosis and treatment of uncomplicated age-related hearing loss into community settings such as local opticians, mirroring a model already used for NHS eyecare in Scotland.
Around one in six Scots is estimated to live with some degree of hearing loss, with age-related decline the most common cause.
Under the plans, hospital consultants and GPs would be freed from routine audiology appointments, with the RNID’s Near You programme expanded nationally.
The initiative is already running in Glasgow, the Scottish Borders, Shetland, Fife and the Lothians.
Commenting, Neil Gray, who is also standing as the SNP candidate in Aidrie, said: “We’ve seen how transformational community eyecare and free eye tests have been, with Scotland the only country in the UK offering free eye tests which is saving an average of £25 per person compared to in England.
“We want that same focus applied to community audiology, making it easier for people to get the hearing checks and hearing aid support they need on their high street rather than waiting for an appointment at a hospital.
“On top of that, we will pilot a series of interventions to improve how people with hearing loss are supported, including making it possible for patients to self-refer for procedures like ear wax management.
“I know that our stakeholders have been clear about the need for more focus on community audiology and I am delighted the SNP if re-elected will take these important new steps to improve the services available to pick up hearing loss earlier and ensure people living with hearing loss are supported.”
He added: “The SNP will always protect our NHS and ensure it is publicly delivered and free at the point of need. Unlike the Westminster parties, we will never carve up our NHS or sell patient data to global billionaires or companies like Palantir.
“Under John Swinney’s experienced leadership, we have a plan for our NHS and it’s working – a vote for the SNP on 7 May is a vote to modernise our NHS even further.”
The party also pledged to pilot a community adult hearing screening service, improve NHS data collection on waiting times and referrals, and commission a feasibility study into reinstating the Queen Margaret University audiology degree course.
The SNP also pledged to improve data capture with NHS Heads of Service and Public Health Scotland and adopt a national commissioning model for deafblind services.
Stephen McAndrew, Director of NHS Services at Specsavers, said:
“Specsavers provides NHS primary care optometry and eye health services across Scotland and the excellent NHS Scotland community eye health model means that we can treat urgent eye conditions and deliver care for patients with glaucoma in our high street practices, rather than them having to attend A&E or hospital eye services.
“We already have the clinicians, facilities and systems in place meet Scotland’s adult-onset hearing-loss needs, and will be delighted to extend this to NHS patients, under the proposed new model of care, exactly as we already do for NHS eye health.
“Providing people with ready access to hearing loss services, including life-long aftercare, is an investment in our communities. Correcting age-related hearing loss reduces social isolation, improves metal health and reduces the risk of dementia.”
Research published in The Lancet has found that treating adult-onset hearing loss in middle and later life could cut dementia cases by seven per cent across the population – a statistic cited by the SNP in making the case for earlier intervention.
Scotland will go to the polls on 7 May. The SNP are looking to achieve an overall majority, and say this would provide a mandate for independence.
Ross Chalmers is a journalist focusing on local Edinburgh news, transport, the environment, the arts, and housing.
He graduated from Edinburgh Napier University with a degree in journalism in Summer 2025 and began working at Deadline News as a reporter in August.
