§ Mr. Hannamasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what facilities are available on the National Health Service for after-fitting rehabilitation for patients supplied with National Health Service hearing aids; whether there are regional variations in the provision of this service; and if he will make a statement;
(2) what is his estimate of the wastage rate of National Health Service hearing aids due to patients discarding them before they are fully rehabilitated; what action he is taking to reduce such wastage; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Alfred MorrisDetailed information about wastage is not available, but relevant studies suggest that there is a minority of patients who do not use their aids at all. Assistance and advice at hearing aid centres is available for patients who require further help after the initial fitting of a National Health Service hearing aid. Rehabilitation facilities in the broader sense are available at certain centres; and I am considering how they might be extended to ensure that hearing aid users generally make the best possible use of their aids.
§ Mr. Hannamasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what facilities are available on the National Health Service for a patient to be assessed and fitted for a hearing aid at home; what is the average waiting time for a domiciliary 807W visit in each region; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Alfred MorrisArrangements for domiciliary visits to assess a patient's hearing loss and to fit a hearing aid are made at the discretion of the consultant. Information about average waiting times is not available.