To ask the Minister of Health to confirm (i) how many audiology consultants are employed by each Trust; and (ii) the number of hours per week for first appointments for audiology services are provided per Trust.

Audiologists are not doctors but a separate category of healthcare professional, therefore audiology consultant is not a term used within the Health and Social Care (HSC) system. Information about audiology services has been provided by each HSC Trust as below.

Belfast HSC Trust:

(i) 15.6 whole time equivalent (WTE) audiology staff (including 2.55 WTE associate and trainee associate audiologists) and 10 ENT consultants.

(ii) 12 hours for audiology and 60 hours for ENT consultants per week (p/w), excluding audiology cover for ENT consultant-led clinics.

South Eastern HSC Trust:

(i) 14.22 WTE audiology staff.

(ii) Average 130-160 hours p/w, excluding audiology cover for ENT consultant-led clinics.

Southern HSC Trust:

(i) 14.5WTE audiology staff (including 0.6WTE associate audiologist and 2.0 WTE trainee associate audiologists).

(ii) Average of 140 hours p/w, equivalent to 39% of audiologist time.

Western HSC Trust:

(i) 10.87 WTE audiologists bands 4-8A, plus one band 4 pending a start date.

(ii) 73.5 Trust audiology sessions p/w; 37% relate to new appointments.

Northern HSC Trust:

(i) 14.3 WTE audiologists bands 4–8A.

(ii) On average 24% of clinical time for adults and 20% of clinical time for paediatrics p/w relate to new audiology appointments.