Column: Doncaster activist shares her audiology journey

My name is Maggie Lockhart and I am the founder member of the Doncaster Audiology Action Group.

I formed the group in the early Autumn of 2024, following a post I put out on social media asking if other people were having issues accessing timely hearing assessments and aids as I had been having.

Within two days of my post, I received more than 200 responses and it became clear that a group response to raise the issues around the Audiology Services would be the most appropriate next step.

We wrote to the Chief Executive of Doncaster and Bassetlaw NHS Trust (DBTH), the Director of Public Health, the Commissioner(Integrated Healthcare Board) and the newly elected MP for Doncaster Central, Sally Jameson(my MP) to raise formally our concerns and request a meeting to discuss issues.

Paul Stones and I first met with Sally in late Autumn 2024; Sally has been hugely supportive and encouraging towards our efforts to get this Service to a level where it will deliver a package of care to address what has been a serious health concern and has raised matters both within Parliament and with local Stakeholders.

We continue to meet with her regularly.

We are grateful for the positive working relationships we have formed with other Stakeholders, since we first met with them in January 2025 and in particular with Representatives from the DBTH.

Although a significant amount of work has been done; there is still a significant backlog of patients who have been waiting in excess of three years.

We wish to extend our thanks to the Audiology Team, led by the Head of Audiology, appointed in late 2024, for their work undertaken to date, to get the Service back to a level of being able to offer clinical appointments and start to address the significant backlog of existing patients awaiting re assessment/review.

Our role is to continue to advocate for patients of the Service and offering our views to Service Providers/ Commissioners on matters that will benefit the patients (and families) of this local Service and Audiology Services nationally.

We want a Service that is “ fit for purpose” and meets the needs of all patients; whatever their age.

Recently, we have extended our support and assistance to Pat Fedorenko, a fellow patient of Audiology Services in the starting up Support Groups, for Doncaster patients who are either Hard of Hearing and /or have Tinnitus.

We view this as a very positive development.

We will assist and represent if needed any patients ( and their Carers) who are Deaf, Hard of Hearing and or/who have Tinnitus ( or any other hearing disorder) irrespective of where they live within the Doncaster Borough.

We primarily use social media to reach out to people and word of mouth.

If you require further information or assistance please contact me via e mail on: [email protected]