Precision Hearing Partnership launches with Stotts Opticians

Stotts Opticians will roll out a new audiology service with the recently-launched Precision Hearing Partnership to its six practices across Greater Manchester and Lancashire.

Following a launch event this August, OT heard from CEO of the new audiology service provider, Dan Hurst, also managing director at Stotts Opticians, and Ben Lawrenson, head of audiology for Precision Hearing Partnership.

Hurst told OT: “I’m really excited to share the news about the launch of the Precision Hearing Partnership. This initiative is something we believe will bring significant benefits to both Stotts and our valued clients.”

“Our patients, who already trust us with their eye care, will now have the opportunity to receive the same level of care for their hearing, allowing us to support more aspects of their overall health,” he added.

The hearing service will first be introduced in the Stotts Opticians Burnley centre practice before being expanded to the remaining practices in the group.

Speaking to OT, Lawrenson shared that the Burnley centre practice has the largest patient base, along with an experienced workforce in terms of previous exposure to audiology.

“We are currently upskilling the staff and training some team members to become hearing care assistants who can perform many functions of an audiologist including wax removal,” he said.

Describing the link between the audiology service and the optometry practices, Hurst shared: “Stotts has provided us with an ideal setting to carefully test and refine Precision Hearing Partnership making sure it truly meets the needs of the market before we consider a wider roll-out in 2025.”

Precision Hearing Partnership will test a new fully-integrated audiology module within the I-Clarity practice management software.

Hurst, a commercial director of I-Clarity, explained: “With I-Clarity recently launching its next-generation enterprise solution in the UK, this integration is an exciting step forward in enhancing its functionality and in building a supportive ecosystem for independent practice owners.”

“What’s particularly exciting is how these three elements – Stotts, Precision Hearing, and I-Clarity – work together. They create a feedback loop that not only strengthens each of them but also helps other practice owners across the UK to grow and improve their services,” he said.

“We’re looking forward to seeing how this synergy can inspire innovation and elevate care standards across the sector,” Hurst added.

Describing the formation of the Hearing Care Partnership, Lawrenson shared that the launch followed 12 months of discussion.

Lawrenson shared: “In my experience, private audiology isn’t providing the best experience for hearing aid users.”

“We’ve invested in state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment, we will adhere to the gold-standard in hearing aid fitting, validation and verification, and perform outcome measures to interpret the effectiveness of treatment,” he said.

Lawrenson added: “We will ensure that every client receives the most accurate assessments and effective solutions tailored to their individual needs.”

“We are excited about the potential impact of our endeavour and are keen to set new standards for quality and service in the audiology field,” he told OT. “We believe that our commitment to innovation and excellence will contribute positively to the industry and enhance the lives of our clients.”