§ Mrs. CaltonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health which primary care trusts and health authorities are making available digital hearing aids for(a) children and (b) adults. [82485]
§ Jacqui SmithIn order to access the national health service contract for digital hearing aids, trusts must first have in place the appropriate infrastructure, equipment and training. All 20 sites from the first wave of the modernising hearing aid services project regularly supply digital aids.
The number of second wave sites prescribing digital aids will increase each month so that all 30 will be prescribing by the end of March 2003. In addition, the 410W 17 sites announced on 22 November as receiving the necessary information technology equipment will be in a position to prescribe digital aids from April 2003.
A list of first wave sites, second wave sites and sites to receive equipment will be placed in the Library.