§ Chris GraylingTo ask the Secretary of State for Health when patients of the Epsom and St Helier NHS Trust will have access to digital hearing aids. [97706]
§ Ms BlearsFunding has been made available for the years 2003–04 and 2004-05 to ensure that a modernised service, providing digital hearing aids, will be available from all National Health Service hearing aids services in England by April 2005.
Epsom and St Helier Hospitals NHS Trust is discussing with their respective primary care trusts whether they wish to modernise in 2003-04 or 2004-05.
§ Tim LoughtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects patients will be able to receive digital hearing aids at the Worthing and Southlands NHS Hospitals Trust. [97879]
§ Ms BlearsFunding has been made available for the years 2003–04 and 2004–05 to ensure that a modernised service, providing digital hearing aids, will be available from all National Health Service hearing aids services in England by April 2005.
NHS hospital trusts not yet involved in the modernisation project will now need to discuss with their respective primary care trusts whether they wish to modernise in 2003–04 or 2004–05.