Rejected petition Change to Government NICE guidelines for Cochlear Implant Eligibility

NICE guidelines for eligibility for Cochlear Implants are standardized relying heavily on hearing tests conducted in sterile conditions which are not representative of everyday situations.
This means many profoundly deaf people are denied funding for a Cochlear Implant because they do not meet the harsh criteria set and cannot afford the surgery privately.
A Cochlear Implant can improve a deaf person’s life immeasurably and should not be based on tests with no significance to real life.
Refusal to grant funding for a Cochlear Implant can be heartbreaking to a deaf person who is struggling to deal with everyday life, communicating with loved ones and feeling useless in the workplace. A Cochlear Implant would mean that they can regain their independence and rebuild relationships that would otherwise suffer.
NICE guidelines need to be relaxed. Cases should be reviewed as a whole taking into account the individual’s situation and needs and not based on circumstantial evidence.