§ Dr. Roger Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what response he proposes to make to proposals by the general medical services committee of the British Medical Association to the effect that where there are long delays in waiting for an assessment by ear, nose and throat surgeons before hearing aids are prescribed such patients should be referred directly to audio-technicians and examined by consultants at a later stage; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. NewtonAs I announced on 7 April at the launch of the "Breaking the Sound Barrier" campaign being staged by the Royal National Institute for the Deaf, Age Concern and the British Association of the Hard of Hearing, we are consulting all the professional and other bodies concerned about how direct reference of adult patients to hearing aid centres could be more widely used.