§ Mr. Gowasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what has been the increase in the number of technicians employed in the NHS trained in the new head-worn hearing aid since the publication of Circular DS 42/74 on 11th March 1974; and what is the percentage increase in the period from 11th March 1974 to the latest available date;
(2) whether he is satisfied with the number of qualified technicians trained 388W in head-worn hearing aids employed in the NHS; and what steps he is taking to increase that number.
§ Mr. Alfred MorrisAvailable figures of qualified physiological measurement technicians (audiology) in the National Health Service in England are not on a strictly comparable basis, but are as follows:
30th September 1973:
264 (whole-time equivalent employed by hospital authorities).30th September 1975:
352 (estimated whole-time equivalent employed by health authorities).This represents an increase of about 30 per cent. over two years.
The majority of these technicians have attended special training courses and seminars provided in 1974 and 1975 prior to the introduction of two models of head-worn aid (BE11 and BE12). Normal training for all technicians now covers head-worn aids. Authorities have the responsibility for determining and meeting their individual recruitment needs.
The issue of head-worn hearing aids is being phased over five years up to November 1979, and I anticipate that this programme will be met.