Hearing Aids

HC Deb 11 November 1948 vol 457 cc1701-2

10. Mr. Edward Evans

asked the Minister of Health whether deaf persons recommended for testing for the Medresco aural aid will be reimbursed travelling expenses when the nearest testing unit is at some distance from their homes.

Mr. Bevan

Claims will be met by the hospital authority whenever they consider that the length of the journey justifies it.

11. Mr. Edward Evans

asked the Minister of Health if he will publish the additional list of hospitals at which the Medresco aural aids will be available.

Mr. Bevan

I will circulate the list in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Mr. Evans

Would my right hon. Friend say if this information is available to the areas concerned where these new centres are being set up?

Mr. Bevan

The information is available, but, if the facilities are deficient, I will certainly look into the matter.

Mr. Evans

What I meant to ask was whether the Minister would publicise the information in East Anglia, for instance, at Norwich?

Mr. Bevan

I hope some notice will be taken of the reply I have given today, but if some other advertisement is necessary, certainly I will arrange for it.

Following is the list:

HEARING AID DISTRIBUTION CENTRES

The following centres are now in operation:

• Sunderland Royal Infirmary.
• Cumberland Infirmary, Carlisle.
• Bradford Royal Ear and Eye Hospital.
• Royal Sheffield Hospital.
• Nottingham General Hospital.
• Norfolk and Norwich Hospital.
• Royal National Throat, Nose and Ear Hospital, London.
• King's College Hospital.
• Metropolitan Ear, Nose and Throat Hospital, London.
• Radcliffe Infirmary, Oxford.
• Northampton General Hospital.
• Prince of Wales Hospital, Plymouth.
• Bristol Royal Infirmary.
• Birmingham and Midland Ear and Throat Hospital,
1702
• North Staffs. Royal Infirmary, Stoke-on-Trent.
• Manchester Hospital for Consumption and Diseases of the Throat and Chest.
• Queen Victoria Royal Infirmary, Preston.
• Liverpool Eye, Ear and Throat Infirmary.

The following additional centres will be opening in the next few weeks:

• Hull Royal Infirmary.
• Addenbrookes, Cambridge.
• London Hospital.
• Kent and Canterbury Hospital, Canterbury.
• Royal South Hants. Hospital, Southampton.
• Cardiff Royal Infirmary.
• War Memorial Hospital, Wrexham.

There are also a much larger number of hospitals where patients may be examined by otologists before obtaining an aid from one of the above distribution centres.