§ Mr. Blenkinsopasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the average delay in supplying hearing aids in the North-East; and what action he will take to improve the position.
§ Dr. John Dunwoody:The average time between examination and supply at the Newcastle Centre is one week and at the Middlesbrough Centre four weeks.
Improvements to the Sunderland Centre including building work are taking place and the service has for some time been severely restricted and waiting time for new patenits has increased to five months. The building work will shortly be finished but it will be some months before the arrears can be overtaken and the service restored to normal. Emergency interim arrangements are under consideration.
Stocks of hearing aids at all three centres are adequate except for OL.58. Supplies of this model have been restricted because of production difficulties but these are now being overcome.