A BACKLOG of 2,000 people in Herefordshire waiting for new digital hearing aids could be cleared by the end of the year.

Extra clinics are being held during evenings and weekends at Hereford County Hospital and a service from a mobile clinic should be starting later this month.

Some deaf and hard-of-hearing people have been waiting for as long as two years and Herefordshire Primary Care Trust is giving the audiology service priority treatment.

The PCT earlier this year announced more money had been earmarked for the service to help clear the waiting list and that digital aids would be provided for those who needed them.