HC Deb 28 February 1952 vol 496 cc197-8W
145. Mr. Erroll

asked the Minister of Health the total number of Medresco hearing aids paid for up to March, 1951.

Mr. Crookshank

One hundred and eighty-nine thousand seven hundred and ninety-eight.

147. Mr. Chetwynd

asked the Minister of Health whether he will exempt from payment for hearing aids people who have already been examined and placed on the waiting list.

Mr. Crookshank

There are about 100,000 outstanding applications, and I cannot undertake to exempt so large a number.

148. Mr. Hargreaves

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that Mr. R. H. Watson, of 25, East Norfolk Street, Carlisle, has been waiting to be supplied with a bone-conduction hearing aid since October, 1949; and when aids of this kind will be available.

Mr. Crookshank

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Lowestoft (Mr. Edward Evans) on 29th November last.

149. Mr. Hargreaves

asked the Minister of Health the number of applicants waiting to be supplied with bone-conduction hearing aids; and how long such applications have been registered.

155. Miss Bacon

asked the Minister of Health how many people are waiting for the bone-conduction type of hearing aids; and what progress is being made with the production of them.

Mr. Crookshank

About 4,000 are waiting, but the actual period of waiting is not known. Clinical trials of an experimental aid are now in progress.

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