BSHAA has a strong and proud history, but we are approaching yet another crossroads.
One path leads to a reset, revitalised, BSHAA operation (possibly in co-operation with other Audiology bodies), whilst the other is a rapid decline into irrelevancy as the HCPC Register continues to grow whilst BSHAA’s ‘market share’ continues to decline.
Change is inevitable and I have supported the decision to engage with BSA and BAA and I welcome further and deeper co-operation – but they have a fundamentally different locus from BSHAA and very little understanding of our commercial interests. In any enhanced co-operation or joint ventures the BSHAA message must not become diluted nor must our interests take second place to those of others.
From within BSHAA I will work to protect the status of HADs and oppose all attempts to de-skill all or parts of our role. HADs are incredibly fortunate to have a legally protected function and I will not stand by and see it eroded nor stand for BSHAA being complicit in any such erosion.
To re-engage with members I will devolve BSHAA’s organisation into a network of regionalised sections each with a local organiser developing a range of formal or informal events which members can attend at little cost. I’ll have a BSHAA student representative in every institution which turns out Audiologists and I want one of them to serve on Council. We now have a decent number of Student members but they still have no voice.
My “manifesto” is to strongly represent the interests of the individual BSHAA member and the BSHAA “brand” whilst leading a structural re-organisation of the Society.I ask you to elect me as your Vice President, with a mandate to take this forward.