HC Deb 14 February 2003 vol 400 cc33-4W
Tim Loughton

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how long it takes to train NHS staff to fit digital hearing aids. [97880]

Jacqui Smith

Current career grade staff working in national health service hearing aid services require approximately six days of additional training to allow them to fit digital hearing aids.

Tim Loughton

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how long he estimates it will take to convert all analogue hearing aid users to digital. [97889]

Jacqui Smith

All National Health Service hearing aid services in England will be fitting digital aids by the end of March 2005. These will be provided as appropriate for all new patients and for existing hearing aid users upon review. For adults that review would not normally be less than three years from fitting of their last aid, unless their hearing has become significantlyworse in the interim. A shorter review period applies to children's services.