§ Mr. Pawseyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what training facilities within the National Health Service exist for those wishing to study tinnitus and how that compares with 1979.
§ Mr. John PattenWe would expect consultants in ear, nose and throat surgery and audiological medicine to provide supervised experience in treating tinnitus as an integral part of practical postgraduate medical education, but we have centrally no detail of the position now or in 1979.
§ Mr. Pawseyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services where the principle centres are situated for the study and treatment of tinnitus.
§ Mr. John PattenFacilities for the treatment of tinnitus sufferers are available at all hospital ear, nose and throat departments. The principal centres for the study of tinnitus include:
The University of Keele, Department of Communications and Neuroscience; the University of London, Institute of Laryngology and Otology; the University of London, Guy's hospital medical school; University College London, department of phonetics and linguistics; the University of Nottingham, institute of hearing research; the University of Wales, Welsh national school of medicine; and the University of Wales institute of science and technology, department of applied psychology.
§ Mr. Pawseyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many specialists there are in post in the National Health Service involved in the treatment of tinnitus.
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§ Mr. John PattenDepending upon the condition of which it is symptomatic tinnitus is usually treated by consultants in ear, nose and throat surgery and audiological medicine whose numbers are given in the table.
Consultants in ENT surgery and audiological medicine (England and Wales—September 1984) Numbers of consultants NHS paid Honourary appointments ENT Surgery 367 8 Audiological Medicine 12 5
§ Mr. Pawseyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the latest estimated number of tinnitus sufferers in the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. John PattenIt was estimated in 1981 that some 15 per cent. of the adult population experienced symptoms of varying frequency, degree and duration which might be defined broadly as tinnitus, and that some 2 per cent. of adults experienced continuous tinnitus, a proportion of whom would be seriously troubled by the symptom.
§ Mr. Pawseyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services when the curriculum for ear, nose and throat specialists was last revised; and if it now provides opportunity for detailed study into the causes and treatment of tinnitus.
§ Mr. John PattenThe Royal College of Surgeons' specialist advisory committee sets the content of pre- and post- fellowship surgical training in otolaryngology covering the full range of disorders of the ear, nose and throat including tinnitus. I understand that the Royal College reviewed its criteria this month.
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§ Mr. Pawseyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what percentage of the ear, nose and throat curriculum measured by time is specifically devoted to the study of tinnitus.
§ Mr. John PattenI understand that the Royal College of Surgeons does not have such detailed information.