§ 14. Mr. Malcolm Savidge (Aberdeen, North)What plans he has to improve NHS services for people with a hearing impairment. [106251]
§ The Minister of State, Department of Health (Mr. John Hutton)We will start a project in England later this year to trial digital hearing aids for national health service patients. The project will form a key part of our plans to develop modern NHS hearing aid services.
§ Mr. SavidgeI welcome that reply as I am aware from my local health authority area of the urgent demand for 906 hearing aids. I am certain that new technology can play a vital role in meeting that need. If the pilots are successful, do the Government intend to extend the availability of digital hearing aids throughout the NHS?
§ Mr. HuttonI can certainly give my hon. Friend that assurance. There is no doubt that digital programmable hearing aids are successful—they work. We have to ensure that that technology is available to NHS patients who use audiology services in local trusts, and we intend to do so in a major development and major modernisation of hearing aid services. I am delighted that the Royal National Institute for Deaf People has given it such a warm welcome.