§ 33 and 39. Mr. Swinglerasked the Minister of Health (1) if he will give an estimate of the number of deaf persons in the United Kingdom who require hearing aids; and if he will state the number who have been supplied with the hearing aid, Medresco, since the inception of the National Health Service;
(2) how many hearing aids, Medresco, and how many hearing aids of other types have been exported since the inception of the National Health Service; and what proportions these quantities are of the total production.
§ 17. Viscountess Davidsonasked the Minister of Health how many of the Medresco hearing aids have been exported; and how many have been supplied to residents in this country at the last convenient date.
§ Mr. BevanNo Medresco aids have been exported, but any manufacturer may use the published specification and. design for production and export of similar aids. I am informed by my right hon. Friend, the President of the Board of Trade, that exports of hearing aids are not recorded by quantities. About 19,000 patients in England and Wales have been supplied with Medresco aids since 5th July. The number needing aids is not known, but is not likely to be less than 150,000.
§ Mr. SwinglerIs the Minister aware that the Question asks how many persons require hearing aids and how many have been supplied under the Health Service up to now?
§ Mr. BevanThe number of persons who have received the Medresco aid up to now is, I think, nearly 20,000.
§ Colonel Stoddart-ScottHow many people who have been recommended for them have not yet received them?
§ Mr. BevanI have not that information, but if the hon. and gallant Member will put down a Question I will obtain the information.
§ Mr. Godfrey NicholsonIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that many deaf people are complaining that the Medresco aid is not the best? Would he give the House his views on that subject?
§ Mr. BevanOn the contrary, all the information which we have from those who are using the Medresco aid is that they are highly satisfied with the result.
§ Mr. SwinglerIs the Minister aware that the Question asks for an estimate of the number of deaf persons requiring it?
§ Mr. BevanOf course the estimate, like all such estimates, is extremely approximate because up to the moment no Government has made itself responsible for helping the hard of hearing. We do not, therefore, know how many people will need the hearing aid. An estimate has been made of roughly 150,000.