§ Mr. HeathTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what private sector companies were used to(a) design, (b) provide facilities for and (c) manage the modernising NHS hearing aid services project. [15599]
§ Jacqui SmithDiscussions were held with all hearing aid companies during the design of the modernising national health service hearing aid services project. The following companies supplied goods and or services and training:
- A&M Hearing Ltd.
- GN Resound Ltd.
730W
Table 1: Number of salaried dentists in the salaried service of the general dental service, personal dental service, community and hospital dental services at September 2000—England Health authority Salaried service of GDS PDS salaried dentists Community and hospital salaried dentists1 Avon HA 0 0 11 Barking and Havering HA 13 0 1 Barnet, Enfield and Haringey HA 0 0 3 Barnsley HA 0 0 — Bedfordshire HA 4 0 3 Berkshire HA 0 0 4 Bexley, Bromley and Greenwich HA 8 3 4 Birmingham HA 0 0 17 Bradford HA 0 0 3 Brent and Harrow HA 0 0 2 Buckinghamshire HA 1 18 5 Bury and Rochdale HA 0 0 2 Calderdale and Kirklees HA 0 0 3
- Starkey Laboratories UK
- Oticon Ltd.
- PC Werth Ltd.
- Lavis Medical Systems Ltd.
The project is managed on behalf of the Department by the Royal National Institute for the Deaf.
§ Ms WalleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what the timetable is for the allocation of funding for the purchase of digital hearing aids; and if he will make a statement. [15807]
§ Jacqui SmithThe Institute of Hearing Research is evaluating the modernisation project on behalf of the Department. Subject to favourable evaluation, we will make decisions about how best to spread the modernised services, including the provision of digital hearing aids throughout the national health service. We have earmarked funds to begin roll-out and have said that up to £25 million will be invested by 2003–04. Funding decisions for 2002–03 will be made in time to allow sites to make plans for delivering services for that financial year.