Consultation on proposal for self-regulation of hearing care businesses

  Currently the hearing care sector is regulated by the Hearing Aid Council (HAC), a government body which exists to protect consumers buying hearing aids in the UK. It is effectively illegal to sell hearing aids in the UK unless registered with HAC, which keeps two registers: one for individual dispensers and one for their employers.  It is now planned that the Hearing Aid Council will be abolished on 31/3/10.

By this date, professional registration of Hearing Aid Audiologists/Dispensers working in the sector will transfer to the Health Professions Council, but specific statutory regulation of the business activity of the sector will cease.  Whilst there is, of course, a whole raft of legislation aimed at protecting consumers generally, this could leave a very vulnerable customer group without any clear way to identify businesses which continue to meet the high standards currently required.

The British Society of Hearing Aid Audiologists (BSHAA) is the professional body for dispensers.  It has examined the opportunity for voluntary self-regulation of business activity under a Consumer Code of Practice meeting the requirements of the Office of Fair Trading’s Consumer Codes Approval Scheme.

On looking at what was involved, BSHAA realised that a Code of Practice was already in existence  which has stage 1 approval from the OFT, and which seems to meet the needs of the hearing care sector.  This is the Code operated by the British Healthcare Trades Association (BHTA) who have indicated they would be willing to extend membership to hearing care companies and thus cover under their Code.

BSHAA and BHTA are now consulting all interested parties on whether the BHTA Code would need to be amended in any way to ensure it covers all aspects of hearing care, and specifically to ensure it:

1.    Covers all the relevant areas of commercial / business practice previously addressed by the “Regulations governing the dispensing of hearing aids in the UK”

2.    Covers any hearing care sector-specific concerns, i.e. any current business practices in the sector which leave consumers disadvantaged

A copy of the current BHTA Code is on www.bhta.com and opinions and views are requested by 31/3/09, to The Secretary, British Society of Hearing Aid Audiologists, 9 Lukins Drive, Great Dunmow Essex CM6 1XQ.

Following consultation it is envisaged that any necessary changes to the BHTA Consumer Code to reflect the needs of hearing care could be made ready during 2009, so that companies in the sector would be able participate immediately on HAC abolition and high levels of consumer protection would be seamlessly maintained.

Click here to see the responses to the consultation