How Pharmacies Can Benefit from offering Ear & Hearing Health Services
Currently, there is a huge unmet demand for ear and hearing health services in the UK. With most GPs discontinuing earwax removal services (BBC), it has become increasingly hard for patients to access this care on the NHS. Average wait times were approximately 12-16 weeks (pre Covid-19); however, many patients are now waiting over a year to receive treatment.
As a result of ever-growing waiting lists, many pharmacies have expanded their scope of practice to support thousands of people in the UK who need access to ear and hearing health services. Pharmacies are uniquely positioned in the heart of local communities and are able to provide faster and easier access to these types of services using the Tympa system.
The Tympa system is the world’s first, all-in-one hearing health assessment system. It combines three powerful tools into one highly portable device. The Tympa system empowers pharmacists to perform high-definition digital otoscopy, microsuction wax removal and a hearing screener, in a single 30-minute appointment.
What’s more, an aspect pharmacists find particularly useful is the Tympa “remote review” feature. If required, pharmacy staff can call upon expertise from Tympa’s team of Audiology and ENT experts. If a review is requested, an Audiologist or ENT will look at the patient’s images and video and can provide support with diagnosis, and guidance given. This means that you will never be without support if you need it. All patient records and data are kept in a fully secure digital system, which can be quickly and easily shared, via a professional PDF, with ENT surgeons, GPs, audiologists or anywhere the patient needs onward specialist treatment or a prescription.
Tympa provide full training to pharmacy staff so they can confidently deliver this service to your customers. With a blended approach to learning, we take trainees through a course of online, self-directed learning, interactive webinars, and face-to-face coaching. We even come along to support you with your very first patient clinic. Once signed off pharmacy staff are officially accredited by ENT UK, The British Society of Audiology (BSA) and The British Society of Hearing Aid Audiologists (BSHAA).
Tympa can offer a brand-new revenue stream for your pharmacy. Generally, you only need to deliver two to three appointments per month to cover the cost of the Tympa device. What’s more, the increased footfall within your pharmacy can lead to a boost in cross-selling potential for other ear-related products such as Earol and decongestants.
The Tympa System is a win-win. Your pharmacy can benefit from increased foot fall and revenues, and you are helping deliver vital ear and hearing health services to your local community. Now is the time for your pharmacy to be at the forefront of ear and hearing healthcare.
Find out how you can bring TympaHealth services to your local community by contacting enquiries@tympahealth.com and one of the Tympa team will be in touch.
“We have traditionally been all about dispensing the medicine, and yet now we can dispense care, we can dispense health, we can dispense a better quality of life and that’s an honour to do that. The bottom line is this service is invaluable.”
Bernadette Brown – Owner, Cadham Pharmacy
The remote review feature has been very handy, even to the doctors nextdoor. When they’ve seen the technology we’ve got [with Tympa] they’ve been quite impressed…”– Bryan Kydd, Owner, Ashludie Pharmacy
