Regulation and Professional Credentials
How Fairfield Hearing is regulated, who our audiologists are, and how to verify our credentials
Why credentials matter for hearing healthcare
Hearing assessment, hearing aid fitting, and ear wax removal are clinical procedures that directly affect your health.
In the UK, anyone practising as a hearing aid dispenser or audiologist must be registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) – this is a legal requirement.
Understanding the credentials of the person treating you matters. This page makes all of Fairfield Hearing’s credentials transparent and verifiable.
Our Regulatory Framework
The Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)
The HCPC is the statutory regulator for audiologists and hearing aid dispensers throughout the United Kingdom.
HCPC registration is a legal requirement to practise, it is not optional and it is not self-certified.
The HCPC maintains a public register searchable at hcpc-uk.org/check-the-register.
To maintain HCPC registration, our audiologists must: meet the HCPC’s Standards of Proficiency; comply with the Standards of Conduct, Performance and Ethics; complete continuing professional development (CPD) and renew registration every two years; and be subject to fitness to practise proceedings if conduct or competence falls below the required standard.
HCPC vs CQC – an important distinction
Private audiology practices in Scotland are regulated by the HCPC, not by the Care Quality Commission (CQC). The CQC regulates health and social care services in England only and does not extend to independent audiology practices. The HCPC is the correct regulatory body for audiology throughout the UK.
Our Audiologists
Stephen Fairfield – Founder and Principal Audiologist
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Qualification | BSc (Hons) Clinical Audiology, University of Manchester, 1989 |
| HCPC registration | HAD00366 — verify at hcpc-uk.org |
| BAA membership | Member, British Academy of Audiology |
| AIHHP | Former Chairman, Association of Independent Hearing Healthcare Professionals |
| Advisory roles | Scottish Executive Advisory Board for Audiology; Queen Margaret University Audiology Group; featured in The Scotsman for advisory work on next-generation hearing screening technology |
| Edinburgh practice | 35+ years |
Louise Stewart – Audiologist
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Qualification | BSc (Hons) Audiology, 2012 |
| HCPC registration | HAD01925 – verify at hcpc-uk.org |
| BAA membership | Member, British Academy of Audiology |
| Specialisms | Advanced hearing aid technology; AI-powered hearing devices; complex fitting presentations; speech-in-noise rehabilitation |
| Background | BSc Mathematical Physics; retrained following voluntary work with Edinburgh Headway Group; NHS and private practice experience |
Sophie Halliday – Audiologist
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Qualification | BSc (Hons) Audiology, 2025 |
| HCPC registration | HAD006099 – verify at hcpc-uk.org |
| BAA membership | Member, British Academy of Audiology |
| Specialisms | Hearing aid dispensing; AI-powered hearing devices; paediatric fitting presentations |
| Background | Sophie graduated from Napier University with a bachelor’s degree in paediatric nursing. Sophie studied at Queen Margaret University and qualified as a Hearing Aid Audiologist in 2025 having joined Fairfield Hearing in 2022 |
Professional Body Memberships
| Organisation | Role | Website |
|---|---|---|
| Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) | Statutory regulator — all practitioners registered | hcpc-uk.org |
| British Academy of Audiology (BAA) | Professional membership — all practitioners | baaudiology.org |
| Association of Independent Hearing Healthcare Professionals (AIHHP) | Professional membership; Stephen Fairfield: Former Chairman | aihhp.co.uk |
| British Society of Audiology (BSA) | Professional body whose recommended procedures inform our clinical practice | thebsa.org.uk |
Data Protection Registration
Fairfield Hearing is registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) as a data controller. Our ICO registration number is ZB091064. Verify at ico.org.uk.
Raising a Concern About a Practitioner
- Contact us directly using our Complaints Policy — usually the fastest route to resolution
- Report directly to the HCPC at hcpc-uk.org/concerns
The HCPC fitness to practise process considers concerns about whether a registered professional’s fitness to practise is impaired. It is not a compensation mechanism.