HC Deb 21 June 1951 vol 489 cc689-90
23. Mr. Ralph Morley

asked the Minister of Health the reasons for the long delay in the production and supply of bone conductor hearing aids.

Mr. Marquand

Research resources had at first to be concentrated on the production and improvement of the air-conduction aid, the different models of which have now been found to meet the needs of the great majority of people requiring an aid. The production of a satisfactory bone-conduction aid raises difficult technical problems involving considerable research, but encouraging progress is now being made.

Mr. Morley

Is my right hon. Friend aware that in the last two years many hon. Members have received many letters from their constituents complaining of the inconvenience of not being able to get these aids? Will he hasten their production as rapidly as possible?

Mr. Marquand

I think we are now at the point where the production of models for clinical trials is possible, and if those trials are satisfactory we shall certainly press on with rapid production.

33. Mr. George Thomas

asked the Minister of Health what arrangements he has made for the local manufacture of ear moulds at Cardiff in order that the supply of hearing aids might be facilitated.

Mr. Marquand

Ear moulds for use with Medresco hearing aids are normally supplied to distribution centres under contracts placed by my Department. Trial arrangements for local manufacture by a firm in Cardiff have been discontinued on grounds of expense.

43. Mr. Wills

asked the Minister of Health what is the average length of the waiting periods between application and delivery of priority and non-priority hearing aids in the South-West Hospital Region; and how these compare with other regions.

Mr. Marquand

Average figures of this kind are not available, and it would require a disproportionate expenditure to obtain them.

Mr. Wills

Is the right hon. Gentleman getting any effects from the adjustment of allocation he promised to make to the Bristol Hospital on 3rd May, or is it a fact that Bristol are still dealing with 1,948 patients, as I was informed in a letter on 22nd May?

Mr. Marquand

The new allocation has been made and, therefore, there must be an improvement in the supply in Bristol, but it must be borne in mind in making comparisons that there were particularly heavy initial demands in Bristol in 1948.

Mr. Wills

What is the meaning of "priority" in this case? Priority seems to give a false indication to the patient that he is to get exceptional treatment.

Mr. Marquand

Priority patients receive their aids in, at most, five months.