HC Deb 20 January 1986 vol 90 cc62-3W
Mr. McCrindle

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the average time which people have to wait for a hearing aid on the National Health Service.

Mr. Newton

The Department no longer collects this information centrally. Responsibility for supplying hearing aids in England and Wales was transferred to Mersey regional health authority on 1 April 1985. Information collected from hearing aid centres by the authority includes the number of outpatients waiting for appointments for fitting or exchanging hearing aids.

My hon. Friend may therefore wish to contact the chairman of the health authority direct.