National pharmacy brands, Amcal and Guardian Pharmacies are now offering free hearing checks in-store and via tele-screening until December 2020 in select stores, as part of a national campaign with Hearing Australia.
The Hearing Australia pharmacy program partnership is exclusive to the Amcal and Guardian pharmacy network.
Crucially, the ongoing partnership follows findings from last year’s Amcal and Guardian hearing clinic campaign which revealed that almost half of all patients nationally screened were from groups at high risk of hearing loss.
Sigma Chief Pharmacist and Group Manager Health Services, Brinley Hosking, says that screening services play a key role in identifying and referring at risk patients to our wider healthcare allies, and she hopes to see increased participation this year.
“In September 2019, close to 4,000 patients were screened at Amcal and Guardian pharmacies during our Hearing Clinics campaign. This represents a crucial point of contact for thousands of Australians suffering from hearing loss,” says Ms Brinley.
“It’s never been quicker, easier, or more cost-effective to identify hearing loss and access treatment and support, and we look forward to welcoming even more patients to the program this year,” adds Ms Hosking.
All appointments will be undertaken by a hearing advisor from Hearing Australia and, based on the results, patients will be advised whether they need to be referred to a Hearing Australia centre for a more in-depth assessment.
Cathy Freeman, Manager – Hearing Australia, says that in-store and tele-screening clinics allow customers who would not otherwise visit a hearing centre for testing, to have access to a hearing check in a familiar location.
“We are proud to offer this unique service in partnership with Amcal and Guardian that allows us to remain connected to local customers and patients, no matter their location or circumstance,” says Ms Freeman.
“Hearing loss is a prevalent issue in the community, and an in-store or tele-screening clinic is a convenient way to have your hearing health assessed.
“Our team will be on hand to guide patients through what next steps they may have to take regarding their hearing,” adds Ms Freeman.
