Cochlear hosts its first North West Hearing Implant Focus Group

On 7 October 2025, we had the pleasure of hosting the first North West Hearing Implant Focus Group, held at The Queen at Chester Hotel. The event, which followed in the footsteps of two successful London Focus Groups, brought together audiologists, CI Mentors, CI Champions, and referring professionals from around the region for a workshop focused on collaboration, knowledge sharing, and improving patient outcomes.

The event showcased an engaging and informative agenda for the 17 attendees, covering critical areas across the hearing implant pathway, including:

• A deep dive into the referral journey, including real-world case studies to support better understanding of referral criteria and processes.
• An introduction to the Cochlear Compass service, demonstrating how it can help navigate patients along their hearing implant journeys.
• A moving personal story from one of our incredible Cochlear volunteers, offering lived experience and a valuable patient perspective for clinicians.
• A practical session on audits, tackling one of the most pressing topics in clinical practice.
• A closing workshop focused on counselling conversations, giving attendees tools to support and empower their patients more effectively.

An anonymous post-event survey showed that 100% of participants found the session useful, and all reported an increased understanding of CI referral processes. Every attendee expressed interest in attending another session.

This event is another strong example of how Cochlear’s Engagement Team is driving referral growth and enhancing Cochlear’s trust to clinicians. By delivering meaningful, practice-focused content, we're helping professionals support their patients with enhanced confidence and expertise.

A huge thank you to everyone involved in ensuring our first focus group in the North West was a resounding success!

For further information on any of the subjects here including planned focus groups for the future, please contact UKLearnNow@cochlear.com