24 March: Coronavirus update for members

24 March 2020

Following the Prime Minister’s address to the nation on Monday evening, I know that you will want to do everything you can to support the national effort. Right now, that is following the Prime Minister’s instructions.

But I also know, as a passionate hearing care professional, that you will want to support your clients over the next few weeks, many of whom will be older, more vulnerable members of your community. You can still do this and stay firmly within the Prime Minister’s measures by providing telephone or online consultations and remote care. When it comes to repairs currently with your manufacturer, I would advise you to work with your suppliers to understand if they can post these repairs directly to your clients.

In person, face-to-face consultations and ‘business as usual’ will be some time off. If you haven’t already I urge you to set up ways of communicating using email, phone and video chat to support your clients. There are many online resources out there from manufacturers, like videos on YouTube, that you will be able to signpost your clients to for additional support in cleaning of their hearing devices. We also have BSHAA guides to caring for hearing aids that you can download from our website and share with your clients.

I know that the fresh uncertainties this situation is throwing up almost daily for BSHAA members’ businesses can feel intolerable. I urge you to access every bit of support that your business is entitled to. I want to see every single BSHAA member business still around when we get through this crisis. They will be needed more than ever when this is over. Please see the help and support that is available at https://www.bshaa.net/business-support/

We are holding a webinar on Thursday at 4pm to update you further. Please send your questions to coronavirus@bshaa.com by 12pm on Wednesday so that we can better understand the support and guidance you need.

Please be assured that we will continue to do everything we can to support and guide you during the difficult weeks and months ahead.

Andrew Coulter BSHAA president

Tuesday 24 March

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