§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many hearing therapists have been trained; how many are currently employed; what has been the annual wastage rate; and what attempts are being made to reduce it;
(2) how many hearing therapists are currently employed by the National Health Service.
§ Mr. MajorAlthough records are not kept centrally, I understand that since 1978, 75 hearing therapists have been trained at the City Literary Institute. There are at present about 60 hearing therapists in post and 12 students on the current course. We continue to keep in close touch with the training authority and the British Society of Hearing Therapists about the development of hearing therapy in the National Health Service.
496W
NHS consultants in audiological medicine: analysis by employing authority, showing changes in numbers since 1979 and 1983 Change/number 1986 1983 1979 1986–83 1986–79 England 14 15 8 -1 +6 Total of figures shown below1 16 20 10 Trent Nottingham HA 1 1 — — +1 North West Thames North West Thames RHA 2 2 — — +2 Paddington/North Kensington HA — 1 — -1 — Riverside HA 1 3 — -2 +1 North East Thames Bloomsbury HA2 5 7 4 -2 +1 South East Thames
§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what financial provision is currently being made for the training of hearing therapists;
(2) whether any estimate has been made of the number of hearing therapists needed in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MajorFollowing seven years pump-priming by the Department, provision for the training of hearing therapists, and estimation of the numbers needed, is now the responsibility of individual district health authorities.
§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what advice his Department has given on the desirability of districts employing hearing therapists.
§ Mr. MajorThe Department has consistently encouraged the establishment of hearing therapy posts in the National Health Service. In 1978 the Department issued a circular to all regional health authorities encouraging them to establish two or three hearing therapist posts in their regions. Until the cessation of central funding in 1985 the Department wrote each year to RHAs asking them to nominate candidates for the training course. In 1985, the Department, in conjunction with the National Health Service training authority, held a seminar to enable participants from the NHS to appreciate the value of hearing therapists and to demonstrate what they can achieve as an integral part of services for people whose hearing is impaired.
§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many district health authorities employ at least one hearing therapist.