I have recently been contacted by a resident in Wyre, about an issue affecting everyone on the Fylde Coast.

I was recently approached by a constituent in Preesall who contacted the audiology department at Blackpool Victoria Hospital to book a hearing appointment, but on arrival they were turned away, as despite booking ahead they had not been referred by their GP service.

This was confirmed by the GP practice, who explained that an audiology referral was needed via an appointment at the surgery. This seems like an unnecessary burden on already over-stretched GP and primary care services, and at odds with the Blackpool Hospital webpage on hearing referrals.

Patients are still having to go through the 8am scramble to be able to see their GP who have very limited appointments – simply for a further referral to a hearing test.

We need to alleviate primary care pressures, and I have written to the Chief Executive of Blackpool Teaching Hospitals to ask why this is the case, and whether they will accept patient self-referrals.

You can read my letter here: