Thousands of hearing aid batteries have been recalled because they could EXPLODE
14,000 patients received a letter telling them there was a risk the devices may blow up
THOUSANDS of hearing aids users have been warned that dodgy batteries could cause their devices to explode.
The alarm was raised after patients reported issues with some ZeniPower mercury-free hearing aid and implant batteries.
Letters warning batteries with best before dates of August 2018 and September 2018 have a "low risk of exploding during use or if depleted" have been sent to 14,000 hearing aid users.
They have been told to bin the defective batteries which have now been recalled.
The warning was issued by the audiology department at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge.
The precautionary measure comes after the watchdog the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) issued a Medical Device Alert warning the batteries should be taken out of circulation.
Writing in the letter sent to patients, Dr David Baguley, head of the audiology service at Addenbrooke's, said: "There is a low risk that these batteries could explode and while to date there have been no reported episodes of any harm caused, as a precautionary measure, we are withdrawing these batteries from circulation and are now stocking alternative batteries."
According to the MHRA, the problem with the batteries is caused by excessive gassing, as the zinc electrode reacts with the electrolyte to generate hydrogen and the battery may "expand and possibly explode on rare occasions".
A patient from Hinchingbrooke, Cambs, who does not want to be named, said he was shocked to hear of the fault.
The man, who has been wearing hearing aids for the past 18 months, said he had recently had a different battery brand from the hospital after using the ZeniPower mercury-free hearing aid and implant batteries for some time.
"I suspect there's only a small risk but if there is a risk you don't want something potentially exploding in your ear," he said.
"Say for example it did explode or catch fire, it could potentially damage your hearing even further which is not what you want."
A Cambridge University Hospitals (CUH) spokesman said: "The advice we are offering to all our patients with hearing aids is to check their batteries and dispose of any ZeniPower mercury-free batteries with the affected expiry dates.
"If in doubt, do not use the batteries and obtain advice and replacement batteries if needed through your usual place of supply.
"All affected batteries have been taken out of stock in the audiology and hearing implant Services at CUH, and in our volunteer partner organisation Cambridgeshire Hearing Help."