AN AUDIOLOGY service at The James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough has won an award for a scheme to cut patient waiting times.

The hearing aid drop-off repair service was the idea of chief audiologist Peter Craggy.

It won the innovative service delivery category in the Innovation at Work Awards 2004.

The scheme aims to combat problems experienced by patients who need their hearing aids repaired.

Patients faced long queues at busy repair sessions to report their hearing aid problems.

When the aid had to be sent away, patients could have another wait for its return.

Now each patient will be given a single-use drop-off repair envelope to leave at the audiologist reception.

Staff will then inform patients of a collection date and provide them with a new envelope.

Where appropriate, patients will see an audiologist.

After being narrowed down to five finalists, Mr Craggy was presented with the award and £7,000 prize money at a ceremony held at the Durham Light Infantry Museum and Art Gallery.

He said: "I am delighted to receive this award and hope it will encourage other members of audiology staff to continue to innovate on behalf of our patients.

"The service is going through some huge changes at the moment and we intend to spend the prize money on innovation days within the department."

The project will shortly be piloted at the University Hospital of North Tees, where Mr Craggy works with his team on behalf of the James Cook audiology service.

It will be extended to the five other repair sites.