§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many specialised tinnitus centres there are in the United Kingdom; in which district health authorities they are situated; and what are their sources of funding;
(2) if he will establish a supra-regional network of tinnitus centres with central funding.
§ Mr. WhitneyInformation on the numbers, funding and situation of tinnitus clinics is not collected centrally. No application for supra-regional funding has been received from any regional or special health authority.
§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will categorise the number of people known to be suffering from tinnitus according to the severity of the complaint; and if he will give the source of the information.
§ Mr. WhitneyIt is estimated that some 15 per cent. of the adult population experiences symptoms of varying frequency, degree and duration which might be defined broadly as tinnitus, and that some 2 per cent. of adults experiences continuous tinnitus, a proportion of whom would be seriously troubled by the symptom. This information is based on data collected in the 1981 general household survey carried out by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys. A copy of its Report is available in the Library.
§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what proportion of the patients who participated in trials of tinnitus maskers were not helped by using the maskers;
(2) when he received the study of the multi-centre trials of masking devices used to relieve tinnitus; and when he intends to respond to it.
§ Mr. WhitneyThe report of the multi-centre trials of masking devices was received in December 1984. It is a long, technical and complex report which has proved difficult to interpret. The report has been considered by independent scientific referees.
It has been hoped that the report would allow clear guidance to be given about the effectiveness of this form of treatment, but this has not proved possible. It does suggest that some sufferers from tinnitus, particularly those who also suffer from hearing loss, can be assisted by tinnitus maskers although for very few would there be long term inhibition of the condition. A higher proportion appear to receive some degree of comfort from the device although it does not appear possible to identify such patients in advance. Other forms of treatment, for instance counselling, can also be effective for some patients. I shall shortly be writing to the co-ordinator of the project.
§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what representations he has received regarding the funding of tinnitus clinics and the National Health Service provision of maskers; what response he has given; and if he will make a statement;
(2) how many tinnitus sufferers have received maskers supplied by the National Health Service; and how many National Health Service patients have had to pay for maskers.
§ Mr. WhitneyIn recent years there have been numerous letters from hon. Members and the public about 571W funding of tinnitus clinics, including the suggestions that they should be regional facilities, supra-regional or centrally funded. The response has been that facilities for the treatment of tinnitus sufferers ought to be available at all hospital ear, nose and throat departments. As for the provision of tinnitus maskers, this is entirely a matter for the clinical judgment of a consultant in relation to a particular patient. He would be aware of the variable benefit that patients derive from this form of treatment. However I am advised that there is not yet general agreement about the effectiveness of this form of treatment compared to others. We have no central information on how many maskers are being provided. Health authorities have no powers to charge National Health Service patients for maskers.