§ Mr. AshleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what action is being taken following the finding that the National Health Service is being overcharged for some hearing aids;
(2) what is the estimated cost to the National Health Service of the overcharging by some hearing aid manufacturers;
(3) when there was last an investigation of the charges made to the National Health Service by hearing aid manufacturers relative to those made to the private sector;
(4) which hearing aid manufacturers have been charging the National Health Service more for their aids than they charge private suppliers; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. FreemanResponsibility for the procurement, storage and distribution of goods required for the NHS national hearing aid service passed from the Department to the Mersey regional health authority on 1 April 1985.
An in-house study was undertaken by the Mersey RHA during January and February 1989, during which the prices charged to the NHS by all the major suppliers of commercial hearing aids were reviewed. The results of the review suggest that considerable savings could be made if suppliers were to charge the same prices to the NHS as those charged to private dispensers.
531WAll the main suppliers have now offered to supply commercial equipment to the NHS at reduced prices and the Mersey RHA is actively pursuing these matters with the companies concerned.