§ 51. Mr. Peter Freemanasked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of the delay in supplying deaf aids to those needing them in Newport amounting to about 12 months in many cases; and whether he will supply them with the type of aid containing one battery only instead of with separate batteries as at present, especially as firms in South Wales are making them to this pattern.
§ Mr. Iain MacleodI am aware of the delay, but the position is progressively improving. The answer to the second part of the Question is "No."
§ 65. Mr. Langford-Holtasked the Minister of Health the average waiting period for applicants for Medresco hearing aids.
§ Mr. Iain MacleodThe waiting period varies according to the patient's priority and local circumstances and an average figure is not calculable.
§ 69. Mr. Chetwyndasked the Minister of Health the number of applicants for hearing aids on the waiting list of the 77W Royal Infirmary, Sunderland; the average time to supply non-priority patients; and what action he is taking to expedite delivery.
§ Mr. Iain Macleod3,029, among whom those now being fitted applied just under two years ago. A new distribution centre is to be opened at Middlesbrough in the New Year, which will relieve the pressure on Sunderland.
Major Hicks Beachasked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that Mr. E. Moss of 37, St. George's Road, Cheltenham, was supplied with a Medresco hearing aid on the 28th August, 1952, after waiting three years and one month; and whether he is further aware that the instrument when supplied was not suitable and that Mr. Moss has been waiting since the end of August for a glass earpiece to be supplied to him to enable him to use the same; and what action he is taking in this matter.
§ Mr. Iain MacleodI am informed that this patient has been provided with a temporary standard insert and is waiting for his individually moulded earpiece. Because of the pressure on the staff at Bristol they are in arrears with providing
78W
WHITLEY COUNCILS FOR THE HEALTH SERVICES (GREAT BRITAIN) Composition of Management Side Council Departments (a) National Health Service Bodies Local Authorities Total England and Wales (b) Scotland (c) England and Wales (d) Scotland (1) General 8 6 2 8 2 26 (2) Administrative and Clerical 8 7 2 — — 17 (3) Ancillary 8 5 1 5 2 21 (4) Dental (Local Authority Staff) 2 (e) — — 7 2 11 (5) Medical: (a) Hospital staff 8 5 1 2 (e) — 16 (b) Local Authority staff 2 (e) — — 14 3 19 (6) Nurses and Midwives 8 5 1 6 2 22 (7) Optical 8 5 1 4 — 18 (8) Pharmaceutical 8 5 1 1 — 15 (9) Professional and Technical "A" 8 5 1 3 2 19 (10) Professional and Technical "B" 8 5 1 3 2 19 (a) Ministry of Health (including Welsh Board of Health) and Department of Health for Scotland. (b) Regional Hospital Boards, Boards of Governors of Teaching Hospitals, and, in the case of (1) and (2), Executive Councils. (c) Regional Hospital Boards and, in the case of (1) and (2), Executive Councils. (d) Mainly County Councils Association, Association of Municipal Corporations and London County Council. The Urban District and Rural District Councils Associations are represented on (5) (b). (e) Observers only. NOTE: Certain councils conduct their business through committees whose Management Side composition varies from that on the full council. individual moulds, but special steps are being taken to deal with the arrears during the next few weeks.
§ 79 and 80. Mr. Haymanasked the Minister of Health (1) why people in West Cornwall are required to go to Plymouth for the fitting of hearing aids;
(2) how many patients have been fitted with hearing aids at the Truro clinic in each six months since it was established.
§ Mr. Iain MacleodPressure on the Plymouth centre is still such that the staff from there are able to go to Truro only to fit patients who, through age or other infirmity, are unable to travel to Plymouth. In the first six months following 1st September, 1951, 36 patients were provided with their aids at Truro, 42 in the second six months and 24 in the last three months.