Thank you for your request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
We can confirm that Essex County Fire & Rescue Service (ECFRS) does hold the information you have requested.
Questions and final response:
Question 1 – I'm reaching out to all UK fire brigades to find out how many allow this within their service and if so, what steps I may need to take to not only get more support from my own service but to also hopefully achieve my goal of the whole country's fire services allowing opearational firefighters with hearing loss (wearing hearing aids). I'm not expecting my brigade to change a policy immediately to suit me but with an ageing workforce and firefighters exposed to many risks, there may be many others in the future who find themselves in the same predicament as myself. Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.
ECFRS do have Operational Fire Fighters in service with hearing Aid(s).
The requirement is that they are compatible (in ear) with PPE and Blue tooth communications systems.
We hope you find this information useful.