Boots to exit AQP audiology contracts within a year

Boots Hearingcare has opted to stop providing NHS any qualified provider (AQP) audiology services in the UK.

A company statement said Boots was still committed to raising awareness of hearing loss and providing access to audiology services in the UK.

Audiologists delivering its NHS services were to be redeployed into its wider retail business and Boots would continue offering retail audiology services in 485 locations.

It said recent developments within the NHS audiology commissioning landscape meant AQP was ‘no longer viable’.

The multiple will exit the services from April 2016, with a full withdrawal by April 2017.

It added: ‘Delivering continuity of care for customers during the transition is the key priority and Boot Hearingcare will work with each individual CCG to help our customers find alternative aftercare provision locally.’