§ Mr. Redmondasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the present waiting period for (a) adults and (b) schoolchildren who have been advised that they have a need for behind-the-ear hearing aids.
§ Mr. Alfred MorrisThe new NHS behind-the-ear aid will become available to children and to adults within the announced priority groups from 1st November 1974. Information regarding the waiting period for children who may be suited to the existing Medresco behind-the-ear aid or commercially available behind-the-ear aids is not available centrally.
§ Mr. Redmondasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what proportion of National Health Service hearing aids for children under the age of 16 years is at present of the behind-the-ear pattern; how these are at present supplied; and how many private dispensers are employed in supplying them.
§ Mr. Alfred MorrisAbout one-half of the Medresco aids provided for children are of the behind-the-ear pattern.490W These are provided through NHS hearing aid centres. In addition some commercially available behind-the-ear aids are supplied to children through the NHS, but neither the number of these aids nor the number of private dispensers involved is known centrally.