§ 26. Mr. Trippierasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if the standard of hearing aids provided for National Health Service patients will be of a standard similar to those available in the private sector.
§ Mr. PrenticeI refer my hon. Friend to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Devon, North (Mr. Speller), earlier today and my right hon. Friend's reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Peterborough (Dr. Mawhinney) on 19 December 1979.—[Vol. 976, c.273.]
§ 42. Mr. Spellerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will announce his future policy towards the availability and quality of hearing aids supplied under the National Health Service.
§ Mr. PrenticeI refer my hon. Friend to the reply my right hon. Friend gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Peterborough (Dr. Mawhinney) on 19 December 1979.—[Vol. 976, c.273.]
The Department is continuing the policy of purchasing hearing aids of best commercial quality. Rigorous checks are applied to ensure that the quality of design and manufacture is maintained at a high level.