§ 15. Mr. Frank Allaunasked the Minister of Health what would be the approximate annual cost of supplying batteries for hearing aids to retirement pensioners and others requiring them, on National Health Service prescriptions, or in some other way.
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Health (Mr. Charles Loughlin)Batteries are available without charge to all users of National Health Service hearing aids.
§ Mr. AllaunWill my hon. Friend consider making the same service, which I appreciate, available through chemists' shops, where at present many pensioners are having to pay 1s. 10d. roughly every three weeks for batteries?
§ Mr. LoughlinWe have more than 600 hearing aid centres and hospitals issuing batteries of this kind to National Health Service patients. There would be extreme difficulties in attempting to put batteries on prescriptions at present. My hon. Friend whispers "Why?". Obviously we do not want to impose additional burdens on the medical profession at present, because they are overworked. Many local voluntary organisations operate a system of exchanging batteries with issuing hospitals.