§ 10. Commander Keransasked the Minister of Health how many hearing aids were issued in the years 1959 and 1960; and how many have been issued in 1961 to date.
§ Commander KeransIs my hon. Friend aware that one of my constituents who applied for an advanced hearing aid—she was very deaf and wore the old type—was told by the local authority that because she had no priority, and priority was given to the men and women trying to get jobs, she could not get the new type hearing aid? Bearing in mind that she is living on her own, and that there is the safety aspect of crossing the road in traffic when wearing the old type of hearing aid, is it not outrageous that in this modern age some of these people should not get a higher priority than laid down by the Regulations?
§ Miss PittIt think that my hon. and gallant Friend's supplementary question shows that he has in mind the transistor hearing aid. The figures that I have given are for Medresco aids generally. The transistor hearing aid which has been introduced within the last two years is being issued on a priority basis, and we are now issuing them at the rate of 200,000 a year. We hope to complete the replacement of all the earlier valve aids by the middle of 1963.