Q&A: Stephen Bannister

Describe your role in the practice as a hearing aid dispenser

Stephen Bannister Specsavers Hearcare model usually employs a ‘Hub’ and ‘Spoke’ set up. In a hub location, demand is often greater compared to a spoke – which is still very busy but would not usually command testing every day of the week. We currently run a combined 18 clinics a week and seven of those are in spoke locations. I test once in each location and also service domiciliary home visits.

A normal testing day will consist of new assessments, issuing patients with appropriate hearing aids, follow ups, ongoing rehabilitation, service calls and even coaching on how to use and maintain the hearing aids to get the best out of them.