HL Deb 22 March 1984 vol 449 cc1368-70

3.25 p.m.

Lord Ennals

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question standing in my name on the Order Paper.

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they propose to take in response to the Royal National Institute for the Deaf s report that for many thousands of deaf people there is a delay of up to 2½ years before NHS hearing aids can be prescribed.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health and Social Security (Lord Glenarthur)

My Lords, long delays did indeed build up in some districts following the peak in demand when new, high-powered hearing aids were introduced in 1980 and 1981. Although the longest waiting time recorded in the report for any part of the United Kingdom was 2½ years, the average time in most regions was less than four months. I am glad to say that that position has been improving, and we expect it to continue to improve.

Lord Ennals

My Lords, clearly the House will welcome any good news that it is given, but would the noble Lord not agree that the Royal National Institute for the Deaf is a highly reputable body, that its report has just come out and that in its report it uses such terms as "chaotic and inefficient"? For an organisation which is certainly not prone to sensationalism or exaggeration to list seven regions in which the delay period is more than two years surely indicates that there is more action needed to be taken by the department.

Lord Glenarthur

My Lords, the shortages which have occurred have been, as I have said, for the higher-powered hearing aids. These aids proved to be very popular, demand for them was higher than expected, and delays have occurred, as I said. The fact is that to some extent we were the victim of our own success in improving considerably the range of devices available under the National Health Service. As soon as we became aware of the problems, estimates were revised and additional funds were made available. The report of the Royal National Institute for the Deaf acknowledges that there was already evidence of improvement when the survey was undertaken. Indications are that supplies are now adequate to meet the current demand.

Lord Harvington

My Lords, I am sure that the House will be pleased to hear what my noble friend has said. Perhaps the difference expressed this afternoon could be resolved between the noble Lord the Minister and the Royal National Institute for the Deaf so that there may not be any misunderstanding between the Ministry and the Institute. Would he also accept from me that I know that his Ministry is doing great work in this matter and doing everything possible to speed up research in order to make these hearing aids much more efficient than they are now?

Lord Glenarthur

My Lords, I am grateful to my noble friend for the second part of his supplementary question. So far as the first part is concerned, my right honourable friend the Minister for the Disabled has already responded to the report referred to in the Question.

Lord Kilmarnock

My Lords, is it not the case that patients often have to wait a long time to see an ENT consultant, only to be sent straight to the hearing aid department? Would it not be a good idea if the department encouraged the health authorities in the direction of direct referral by GPs to the hearing aid department?

Lord Glenarthur

My Lords, direct referral by general practitioners does operate in some places. It is always done under the general authority of a consultant, who remains responsible for the course of diagnosis and treatment and who alone can prescribe the hearing aid.

Lord Winstanley

My Lords, may I ask the noble Lord to give an assurance that the Government have no intention of privatising the provision of hearing aids and of phasing out the present arrangements whereby hearing aids are supplied free of charge through the hearing aid centres so very satisfactorily at the moment?

Lord Glenarthur

My Lords, I know of no such plans.

Baroness Vickers

My Lords, can my noble friend the Minister say whether there are about 10 million people with hearing defects, and confirm that that wonderful woman, Helen Keller, stated that blindness cuts you off from things but deafness cuts you off from people? Would he agree that we really do want people to be able to play their part naturally? Therefore, may I ask him, as the population is getting older, whether this matter can be speeded up?

Lord Glenarthur

My Lords, I am sure that what my noble friend says is correct as far as Miss Keller is concerned. The delays have largely been removed, and increased resources have been made available. Communication with hearing aid centres has been improved, and most patients receive their hearing aids in only a few weeks.

Lord Molloy

My Lords, is the Minister aware that the problem arises from the distribution of consultants? There might be a number of specialists in one area and only half that number in another area, so that inevitably, as the Minister has already said, the waiting periods will vary. The remarkable thing is that this tremendous and wonderful work is being done—

A noble Lord

Speech!

Lord Molloy

Therefore, my Lords, would the Minister not agree that, if this situation could be examined, the tremendously good work now being carried out could be enhanced by a better distribution of the consultants?

Lord Glenarthur

My Lords, I can tell the noble Lord that the number of ENT consultants increased from 336 in 1979 to 355 in 1983.

Lord Leatherland

My Lords, would the Minister not agree that on some occasions it is an advantage not to hear what other people are saying?

Lord Glenarthur

My Lords, I would entirely agree with the noble Lord.

Baroness Lane-Fox

My Lords, is my noble friend the Minister aware that since 1981 grants totalling £220,000 have been made towards a sympathetic hearing scheme, and that I am told that these grants have been greatly appreciated? One hopes that this may possibly help to reduce delays.

Lord Glenarthur

My Lords, I am delighted to hear what my noble friend says.