§ Mr. Alfred MorrisTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the number of hearing therapists employed by each health authority in each year since 1980 and the proportion per 100,000 population; what is his estimate of the optimum number of hearing therapists per 100,000 population; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MellorWe do not hold centrally information in regard to hearing therapists employed by particular health authorities in specific years but I understand that 55 are now in post. The total number required will depend on needs perceived by health authorities and the way in which they organise their audiology services.
§ Mr. Alfred MorrisTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people have completed training as hearing therapists in each year since 1980; what steps he has taken to ensure that the provision of trained hearing therapists is adequate to meet the demand; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MellorThe following numbers of people have successfully completed training as hearing therapists since 1980:
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Number 1980 10 1981 11 1982 9 1983 10 1984 9 1985 10 1986 11
Number 1987 11 1988 10 Provision of hearing therapists was initially funded by the Department but it is now the responsibility of individual health authorities. The Department is keeping in touch with the National Health Service training authority in regard to future training provision.
§ Mr. Alfred MorrisTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of hearing aid centres employ, or use the services of, a hearing therapist; what research he has undertaken to monitor the decrease in wastage of hearing aids supplied by the National Health Service as a result of the employment of hearing therapists; arid if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MellorWe do not hold centrally information on the numbers of hearing therapists made available by health authorities to particular hearing aid centres. No such research has been undertaken nationally.
§ Mr. Alfred MorrisTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he is taking to improve the pay and career structure of hearing therapists; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MellorThere are at present no pay and grading arrangements specifically for hearing therapists. The pay of most of them is linked to that of senior physiological measurement technicians which is negotiated in the professional and technical B Whitley council. The general Whitley council is currently considering what formal arrangements might be made within the Whitley council system for determining the pay of this group.
§ Mr. Alfred MorrisTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he is taking to ensure the future training of hearing therapists following the abolition of the Inner London education authority; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MellorThe hearing therapist training course at the City Literary Institute continues and the National Health Service training authority is considering future requirements.