§ Mr. Andrew Bowdenasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many outpatients are waiting to have a hearing aid fitted or exchanged (a) in England and (b) in Wales; and what is the average waiting time in each case.
§ Mr. NewtonThe Department no longer collects this information centrally. Responsibility for supplying hearing aids in England and Wales was transferred to Mersey regional health authority on 1 April 1985. Information collected from hearing aid centres by the authority includes the number of outpatients waiting for appointments for fitting or exchanging hearing aids.
My hon. Friend may therefore wish to contact the chairman of the health authority direct.