PROPOSALS to provide only one hearing aid to people with hearing loss in both ears to save money have been shelved by health bosses.

Concerns were raised by the public and hearing loss experts in December when the plans by the Northern, Eastern and Western Devon Clinical Commissioning Group (NEW Devon CCG) to limit two hearing aids to the under 18s were first revealed. The group later announced that it would be consulting on the proposal.

In a statement this week a spokesperson for NEW Devon CCG said an internal review process had concluded that it would not be implementing an interim restriction to the funding of hearing aids.

The news has been welcomed by the charity 'Action on Hearing Loss' following a six-week long campaign.

Chief executive of the charity Paul Breckell said: 'We are relieved NEW Devon CCG has abandoned its baffling plans, as clinical evidence clearly shows people with bilateral hearing loss benefit from receiving two hearing aids.

'We would now welcome confirmation from the CCG that the long-term provision of hearing aids is safeguarded in the NEW Devon area.

'It still concerns us that other health groups in England are considering cuts to hearing aid provision, a service that has been available since the inception of the NHS.'

Action on Hearing Loss will be launching 'Under Pressure', a major research report into NHS audiology restrictions across the UK, at the end of this month —with the charity urging members of the public to help protect their local audiology services.

A spokesperson for the NEW Devon CCG said: 'The CCG has been considering a number of proposed measures in order to protect services and prioritise the requirements of the NHS Constitution. 

'Included in this was the proposal to consider funding only one hearing aid, except for in exceptional circumstances. 

'The CCG has always accepted that there is benefit from an additional hearing aid.  Our internal review process has concluded that we will not be implementing an interim commissioning position to restrict the funding of hearing aids.'

Plans to restrict routine surgery to those who smoke or are overweight have also been abandoned, although people will be encouraged to be more healthy in the run-up to operations.