§ Mr. Ovendenasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the average waiting time in each health district in Kent between the first reference by a general practitioner of a patient requiring a hearing aid and the date by which that appliance is finally supplied.
§ Mr. Alfred MorrisThis information is not available in the form requested. The average waiting time in respect of each of the four centres supplying hearing aids in Kent, between referral by a general practitioner and the supply of hearing appliance, is as follows: Dartford four to four and a half months; Canterbury seven to eight months; Tunbridge Wells two to two and a half months; Maidstone 16 months. It is hoped that improvements being undertaken at Maidstone will reduce the waiting time to six months by the end of the summer. Moreover, I have asked the Kent area health authority to consider ways in which the waiting time in respect of the Canterbury centre might be improved.