A BATCH of hearing aid batteries have been recalled due to a low risk of the items exploding during use or if depleted.

Which batteries are affected?

ZeniPower mercury-free hearing aid batteries with the product code of A13 MF and a best before date of either ‘08-2018’ or ‘09-2018’ are subject to a manufacturing fault resulting in a ‘low risk’ of the batteries exploding.

Should you be worried?

The manufacturers say the warning is a ‘precautionary measure’. No adverse incidents resulting in an injury have been reported.

An NHS spokesman said patients may have been given these batteries from October 2015 at either Harrogate District Hospital or Ripon Community Hospital. Patients are being contacted individually, but anyone who has received batteries since October 2015 is asked to check them.

Any patients who have received batteries from GP practices in Harrogate and Rural District should also check what they have.

What should you do?

Batteries should be returned to the Audiology departmentas at Harrogate District Hospital or Ripon Community Hospital or to GP receptions.

If any patients have queries they should contact their local Audiology service.

What do the experts say?

Dr Kat Johnson, Clinical Director for Elective Care at Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust, said: “This is a precautionary measure instigated by the manufacturer, ZeniPower.

"We ask that patients who have a hearing aid and have received new batteries as specified from us since October 2015 stop using them and return them to us. This only affects a smaller number of patients – the majority of our audiology patients have different brands or battery types.”