§ Mr. Gordon Wilsonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland when high power hearing aids to replace current National Health Service hearing aids were first introduced in Scotland; how many have been supplied in each of the last five years; and what has been the cost.
§ Mr. FairgrieveHigh power hearing aids were first included in the NHS range about 20 years ago. The latest edition, which replaced several earlier models, is a body-worn type BW61, introduced in August 1978.
The total number of high power aids issued since 1975 is not readily ascertainable; but the number of model BW61s issued, and the cost, are given below:
No of Aids *Cost 1978 (August onwards) 150 £3,537 1979 624 £17,747 1980 (to 31 May) 518 £14,732 *excludes the cost of batteries