§ 89. Mr. W. Fletcherasked the Minister of Health if he will consider re-allocating the distribution and priorities of hearing aids so as to include a reasonable percentage for those over 60 years of age not included in any of the present priorities.
§ Mr. BevanThe present system of priorities is very far from rigid; but, while I have great sympathy with the needs of old people, I think that the needs of those who positively require an aid for their work should, generally, come first.
91. Mr. Leslie Haleasked the Minister of Health on what date it is proposed that a bone induction hearing aid will be available for distribution under the provisions of the National Health Service.
§ Mr. BevanTrials of a modified aid are now being arranged, but it is too early to say when supplies will be available generally.
§ 122. Mr. Osborneasked the Minister of Health if he is aware that Mrs. A. Barber, 55, Blundell Avenue, Cleethorpes, who applied for a hearing aid in August, 1948, has not yet been supplied; and, since she works as a lip-reading teacher and is engaged in other welfare work and in view of the promises made by his Grimsby and Hull hospital centres, he will see that the instrument is sent at once.
§ 124. Mr. Storeyasked the Minister of Health if he is aware that Mr. Herker Jones, of 227, Derbyshire Lane West, 118W Stretford, classed as a priority case, waited five and a half months for an appointment at Manchester and is still waiting 10 months after the appointment for an aural aid; and if he will make a statement upon the circumstances which have caused this delay.
§ Mr. BevanI understand that this patient is not in the hospital's first priority group, but in the second. Delay is due to the large accumulated demand that has fallen to be met by the new service.