An investment in services of more than £1million has seen waiting times for patients needing NHS hearing aids dropping from 18 months to 11 weeks.

In some cases patients have their hearing assessed and fitted with an aid on the same day.

The improvement follows an investment of more than £1million in audiology services by the NHS Eastern and Coastal Kent Primary Care Trust.

To reduce waiting times, the trust brought in independent audiologist Andrew James to work from GP surgeries in Whitstable, Ramsgate, Deal and Sittingbourne.

The PCT also used Hearbase, a privately run audiology company, to work on behalf of the NHS.

Audiology services based in the area’s acute hospitals were additionally increased to handle more referrals.

Closer working between the PCT and Hi Kent has enabled the charity for the deaf to continue supplying free hearing aid batteries from 100 outlets throughout east Kent.

James Ransom, lead commissioner for head and neck services at the PCT, said: “In 2007 there were more than 5,000 patients on our waiting list and the average time for them to receive a hearing aid was 85 weeks.

“Some people could be kept waiting for up to two years. Now that has been cut still further to little more than 700 people waiting an average of 11 weeks.”

Mr Ransom said more investment was being made over the coming year to continue reducing waiting times.