§ Mrs. CaltonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost per patient is of(a) an externally-worn hearing aid and (b) a hearing aid fitted to be internally worn. [186314]
§ Ms Rosie WintertonThere are a number of hearing aid types available under the national health service national framework for the supply of hearing aid products. For behind-the-ear hearing aids, prices are in the range of £67 to £195 for digital aids and £31 to £125 for analogue aids. In-the-ear hearing aid prices are in the range of £54 to £66 for analogue aids. These prices are for supply of a single hearing aid only and do not include the costs associated with the provision of the hearing aid service.
§ Mrs. CaltonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health by what date internally-worn hearing aids will be fitted to all NHS patients for whom they are suitable and who request them. [186361]
§ Dr. LadymanAll audiology departments in England will routinely be fitting digital hearing aids by March 2005 to patients who require them.
There are no plans for the national health service to supply in-the-ear hearing aids routinely to patients.