The UK’s first survey to collect data on sight and hearing loss has been launched in two counties.

The UK National Eye and Hearing Health Survey (UKNEHS) aims to record data to inform the NHS and policy makers and is a collaboration between sensory loss charities, Anglia Ruskin University (ARU), eye and hearing professionals and the public sector.

According to the study, the UK lacks an accurate set of data to help inform health policy and programs and estimates that 50% of sight loss is avoidable.

UKNEHS said Cambridgeshire and Peterborough were chosen for the project because they both have diverse populations with a range of socio-economic factors and rural and urban areas.

The study received funding from charities and the National Institute for Health and Care Research.

To carry out the survey, health professionals from UKNEHS will visit 750 randomly chosen households in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough between October this year and February 2025. It will be followed by those aged 50 and over who will be invited for a free specialist assessment.

Rupert Bourne, Professor of Ophthalmology at the ARU and Chief Investigator of the UKNEHS, said: “Hearing impairment costs the UK around £30 billion each year and sight impairment, including sight loss and blindness, £28 billion sterling.

“Despite these huge costs, the datasets currently used in the UK are of limited value, due to reliance on international data or samples of UK data that are either very small scale or cannot be generalized to the population in assembly.

“Consequently, there is no solid evidence base on which to design a prevention strategy or plan services for the future that meet the needs of the population.”

The first stage of the study saw UKNEHS teams visit care homes in the area to study the sensory health of residents.

Nik Johnson, Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, said: “It’s fantastic news that in the near future there will be teams visiting different areas of the county and local people in the community will have the opportunity to get involved. study.”