Deaf Persons

HC Deb 30 November 1977 vol 940 cc280-1W

Mr. Pavitt

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing the numbers on waiting lists for appointment, the average waiting time and the number of audiologists in post and on the establishment of hearing aid centres attached to London teaching hospitals.

Mr. Moyle

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 14th November 1977; Vol. 939, c. 57–8], gave the following information:

The information is as follows:

TABLE III
These hospitals have separate waiting lists for body-worn and post-aural aids. For post-aural aids they keep no record of waiting time for first appointment, but do record waiting time for fitting.
							Hospitals
							St. Bartholomew's	London
Waiting list (first appointment)—
Body worn aid	…	…	…	…	…	…	—	—
Post aural aid	…	…	…	…	…	…	190	430
Average waiting time—
Body worn aid	…	…	…	…	…	…	—	—
Post aural aid (fitting)	…	…	…	…	…	6 weeks	1 month
AUDIOLOGISTS—
In Post—
Audiology Technicians	…	…	…	…	2	5
Consultant Audiologists	…	…	…	…	—	—
On Establishment—
Audiology Technicians	…	…	…	…	3	6
Consultant Audiologists	…	…	…	…	—	—

TABLE IV
This hospital works on direct referral from its own Ear, Nose and Throat Clinic and has no waiting list for first appointments.
								Charing Cross Hospital
Numbers on waiting list (fitting)	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	77
Average waiting time (fitting)	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	8–10 weeks
AUDIOLOGISTS—
In Post—
Audiology Technicians	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	4
Consultant Audiologists	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	—
On Establishment—
Audiology Technicans	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	5
Consultant Audiologists	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	—
Notes to all Tables
The figures given are whole-time equivalents, unless otherwise stated.
Audiology technicians—physiological measurement technician (audiology)—(various grades).
Where the tables show no consultant audiologists at the hearing aid centres, this is generally because the hospital's audiologist is attached to the ear, nose and throat (ENT) clinic, or because several of the hospitals' ENT consultants carry out audiology work when necessary, without being attached to the hearing aid centres.