National Health Service Expenditure (Hansard, 16 February 1976)

§ Mr. Hooley
asked the Scretary of State for Social Services if she will publish in the Official Report total capital spending on major projects—not minor works—within the National Health Service in each of the years from 1964 to 1975 at current prices, and aggregate capital expenditure on the National Health Service from 1948 to the present day.

§ Dr. Owen
I regret the information is not available in the form requested, but the estimated expenditure on major schemes is as follows:
person has to wait before obtaining an appointment for the testing and fitting of a National Health Service behind-the-ear hearing aid.

§ Mr. Alfred Morris
The new NHS behind-the-ear hearing aids are prescribed and fitted in approximately 300 hospitals.
Two models of the aid are currently available, manufactured to one broad specification, and most adults with an acquired partial hearing loss can benefit to some degree from these aids. Any general extension in their range must depend on availability of resources. Consultants already have discretion to prescribe commercial hearing aids for children and young people up to age 18 and to 551W age 21 for those continuing in full-time education.
Information about average waiting time is not collected in the form sought, but for the quarter ending September 1975,

Adults Children

Region Number fitted with behind-the-ear hearing aids, including replacements Number for whom appointment made or on a waiting list for fitting including replacements Number fitted with behind-the-ear hearing aids, including replacements Number for whom appointment made or on a waiting list for fitting including replacements

Northern … … 558 9,869 151 6

Yorkshire … … 2,236 2,831 102 7

Trent … … 461 842 135 11

East Anglia … … 307 163 77 8

North-West Thames … … 440 1,776 53 0

North-East Thames … … 615 3,666 152 15

South-East Thames … … 428 357 50 11

South-West Thames … … 396 465 50 21

Wessex … … 496 1,912 56 23

Oxford … … 167 452 31 4

South-Western … … 669 782 152 3

West Midlands … … 430 4,493 248 9

Mersey … … 296 3,144 100 28

North-Western … … 1,419 644 98 153

Notes:

(1) Figures do not include returns from five area health authorities in four regional health authority areas.

(2) In some regions, the numbers of out-patients waiting for fitting are inflated by the inclusion of patients who fall in groups not at present eligible for these aids, but whose present hearing aid will eventually be replaced by a behind-the-ear hearing aid.

			Adults	Children
Region	Number fitted with behind-the-ear hearing aids, including replacements	Number for whom appointment made or on a waiting list for fitting including replacements	Number fitted with behind-the-ear hearing aids, including replacements	Number for whom appointment made or on a waiting list for fitting including replacements
Northern	…	…	558	9,869	151	6
Yorkshire	…	…	2,236	2,831	102	7
Trent	…	…	461	842	135	11
East Anglia	…	…	307	163	77	8
North-West Thames	…	…	440	1,776	53	0
North-East Thames	…	…	615	3,666	152	15
South-East Thames	…	…	428	357	50	11
South-West Thames	…	…	396	465	50	21
Wessex	…	…	496	1,912	56	23
Oxford	…	…	167	452	31	4
South-Western	…	…	669	782	152	3
West Midlands	…	…	430	4,493	248	9
Mersey	…	…	296	3,144	100	28
North-Western	…	…	1,419	644	98	153
Notes:
(1) Figures do not include returns from five area health authorities in four regional health authority areas.
(2) In some regions, the numbers of out-patients waiting for fitting are inflated by the inclusion of patients who fall in groups not at present eligible for these aids, but whose present hearing aid will eventually be replaced by a behind-the-ear hearing aid.