Hearing Aids (Hansard, 18 December 1996)

§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Baroness Cumberlege)
My Lords, NHS hearing aid centres may purchase and supply to a patient free of charge any type of hearing aid that they consider medically appropriate.

§ Lord Ashley of Stoke
My Lords, first, let me say that I have no interest to declare. I use a cochlea implant and do not use a hearing aid. I am very surprised at the Minister's response. She should know that, although that is the theory, in practice very few deaf people can obtain that kind of private aid through the National Health Service—and good luck to those who can get them.
Is she aware that the present National Health Service aids are very old-fashioned? A recent report by Hearing Concern said that, while they are helpful in quiet surroundings, they are of very little help under most circumstances. That is quite a condemnation. The poor performance is because there is no provision in this aid for cutting background noise, nor for the automatic boost of sound, nor for multidirectional microphones. I am told by some experts that also the specifications are inadequate. Cannot the Government help those millions of people who depend on that second-class technology?

§ Baroness Cumberlege
My Lords, it is quite right that the noble Lord should say that he does not have an interest to declare in this subject. However, many of us feel that he has shown enormous courage and determination in overcoming his disability. More than half a million hearing aids are allocated each year to those who need them. The department is looking carefully at the advanced digital hearing aid to which the noble Lord referred. It is still at the developmental stage. It is up to those involved in audiology to decide what is the best type of hearing aid for an individual. But none is excluded from the National Health Service.

§ Lord Gisborough
My Lords, is my noble friend aware that I am a very lucky chap? I asked for a hearing aid, and I received one of a high specification very quickly. It is better than the very expensive privately 1505 supplied ones that I had before. Furthermore, it cuts out noise and takes in the ring, or whatever it is, that goes around the House.

§ Baroness Cumberlege
My Lords, I am delighted that we have one satisfied customer of the NHS here today.

§ Lord Trefgarne
My Lords, is my noble friend aware that despite the views of my noble friend Lord Gisborough there is some sympathy for the views of the noble Lord, Lord Ashley, which I recall from my own experience in the department? Is she satisfied that the manufacturers of hearing aids are sufficiently subject to the spur of competition in order that they may bring forward continuous improvements to their products rather than relying on the enormous captive market of the National Health Service?

§ Baroness Cumberlege
My Lords, six manufacturers supply hearing aids to the National Health Service. Trusts which supply these appliances go out to competitive tender every year for them.

§ Lord Jenkins of Putney
My Lords, is the noble Baroness aware that she has a semi-satisfied customer, in that I am on the way, I hope, to getting a more satisfactory hearing aid from the National Health Service than I have had hitherto?

§ Baroness Cumberlege
My Lords, I am delighted.

§ Baroness Jay of Paddington
My Lords, can the Minister comment further on the discussions a few weeks ago, which were somewhat heated, about the entitlement of war pensioners to enhanced hearing aids? At that time the Government said that there was no need for additional private help because medical evidence suggested that NHS hearing aids were satisfactory, although I understand that many doctors who are experts in this field have since come forward to say that that is not so. Can the Government now publish the evidence on which they made that decision?

§ Baroness Cumberlege
My Lords, it is a matter for the War Pensions Agency and the Department of Social Security to decide what type of hearing aid individuals who are war pensioners receive. The hearing aid service is free to anyone through the National Health Service and, as we have heard this afternoon, many people are very satisfied with it.

§ Lord McIntosh of Haringey
My Lords, the Minister was answering as if she were not responsible for the War Pensions Agency and the Department of Social Security. Does she not recognise that on these occasions she answers for the Government as a whole?

§ Baroness Cumberlege
Yes, my Lords. I was just clarifying where the responsibility lies within the ministerial team.

§ Lord Ashley of Stoke
My Lords, is the Minister aware that the war pensions issue is a very important one 1506 which we will be raising shortly? But for the moment will she address her mind to the question I am raising of an improved National Health Service hearing aid for the many millions of people, especially older people, who rely upon it? Will she take my word for it that she is misinformed when she says that this hearing aid is at the developmental stage? I know that it has now been developed. An advanced hearing aid is available now. I am not suggesting that the health service can afford it overnight, but will she try to push it forward a little? Because so many issues are involved and because this affects many millions of people, will she see a deputation consisting of myself, Members from both sides of the House and perhaps Members of another place and experts in the field just to discuss the better use of resources?

§ Baroness Cumberlege
My Lords, the noble Lord is aware that I am always delighted to see him. There have been several occasions when he has come to my office and we have discussed these issues. My door is always open to him.

§ Lord Mackie of Benshie
My Lords, is the Minister aware that I have a very expensive hearing aid which fits into my ear? It costs around £1,000. Surely, with the advances now taking place, if the ministry were to place an order with firms which produce small computerised hearing aids to improve the hearing and the lives of deaf people enormously they could be bought extraordinarily cheaply. Surely this is a case where the ministry should use its buying power to bring down the price.

§ Baroness Cumberlege
My Lords, it is up to trusts to decide where to buy hearing aids. There is the NHS Purchasing Centre. Many of the trusts go to the centre but others prefer to place their contracts individually. That is a matter for them. We believe that we get good value for money. It is competitive. Six firms are involved. Every year the contracts are put out to competition. Hearing aids are a very personal thing. We recognise that individual aids are needed by individual people. That assessment is best made through those involved in audiology—the consultants, technicians and others involved.

Lord Bruce of Donington
My Lords, I note the competitive nature of the manufacture and supply of hearing aids to those who need them. However, does the noble Baroness agree that it is advisable for individuals who think they may need a hearing aid to rely not solely on the advertisements of the manufacturers or the representations that they or their agents make but that at all times it should be kept under the clinical control, first, under the general practitioner, and then, if necessary, the ear, nose and throat specialists?

§ Baroness Cumberlege
My Lords, I would not want to restrict choice. If people prefer to go directly through an advertisement, that is up to them. However, the noble Lord makes a good point, in that we have comprehensive services to support the supply of these devices. It is important that people make use of those services because clearly they are beneficial to them.