Chime Hearing Services Receive UKAS Accreditation

Chime Social Enterprise, the hearing experts have recently been awarded the highest quality accreditation for their services gaining the prestigious Improving Quality in Physiological Services (IQIPS) accreditation from the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS). Chime has been granted UKAS accreditation against the IQIPS standard for its full range of adult and children's Hearing Services. The accreditation was achieved following months of stringent assessment in key areas such as patient experience, safety, facilities, resource and clinical skills.

IQIPS is a professionally-led assessment and accreditation programme, sponsored by Professor Sue Hill, Chief Scientific Officer, NHS England and hosted by the Royal College of Physicians (RCP). IQIPS is designed to improve services, care and safety for patients undergoing physiological science service tests, examinations and procedures. As independent assessment and accreditation is a key part of the IQIPS programme, UKAS has been contracted by the RCP to deliver the national assessment and accreditation service for all eight physiological specialisms within IQIPS. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has approved the use of IQIPS within its hospital inspections methodology.

More than 50% of over 60s have a level of hearing loss but most wait until their mid 70’s before seeking treatment. Chime runs hearing service clinics across 15 locations throughout Devon bringing treatment of hearing loss into the community, resulting in better outcomes for patients and an improved quality of life. UKAS accreditation covers all these locations and can be seen as a badge of excellence in hearing services.

Jonathan Parsons Managing Director of Chime said “We are thrilled and delighted to be awarded UKAS accreditation against the IQIPS standard. We are the first and only hearing service in the Exeter area to achieve this accreditation.” Jonathan went on to say “We continue to set the standard in hearing care for others to follow, and the achievement of being granted IQIPS recognition is a key milestone on our forward journey. We have worked hard to achieve this and my sincere thanks to all the staff of Chime and to the UKAS Assessment Team for their diligence and support in enabling us to achieve this accreditation.”

On presenting the UKAS accreditation certificate to Chime Social Enterprise, Paul Stennett the Chief Executive of UKAS said. “Chime is one of the largest and most complex hearing services that UKAS has assessed under the IQIPS programme to date. Attaining UKAS accreditation against the IQIPS standard provides real confidence in the quality of the service for both patients and commissioners, as well as being a ‘badge of quality’ for staff. Congratulations to everyone within Chime on achieving this accreditation.”