§ Miss Emma NicholsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he has taken, or proposes to take, in relation to the proposals on the provision of hearing aids advanced by the hon. Member for Torridge and Devon, West on 23 March,Official Report, columns 1299–1303.
§ Mr. Ieuan Wyn JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what consideration he is giving to developing innovative pilot projects in community delivery of hearing aids;
(2) what plans he has to reduce the time taken to obtain a National Health Service hearing aid;
(3) what steps he is taking to improve the take-up and use of National Health Service hearing aids;
(4) what steps he is taking to make hearing aid services more accessible, particularly to elderly people and to people living in residential homes;
(5) when he intends to respond to the Royal National Institute for the Dears fair hearing campaign; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. Rosie BarnesTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what guidance his Department has issued on the direct referral of patients needing hearing aids to hearing aid centres; and if he will make a statement;
(2) what plans he has for the improvement of National Health Service hearing aid services; and if he will make a statement;
(3) what research his Department has conducted into the average waiting time for the testing and fitting of a hearing aid;
(4) what response his Department has made to the Royal National Institute for the Deaf document, "Hearing Aids—the Case for Change";
(5) whether he will take steps to increase the choice of hearing aids available on the National Health Service.
§ Mr. FreemanI am very grateful to the Royal National Institute for the Deaf for bringing public attention to the difficulties which some people face in obtaining a hearing aid. There is a broad measure of agreement for the idea of making hearing tests and the supply of hearing aids more accessible to people in the community and I am pleased to be able to announce a number of measures towards this end.
First, Sir Donald Wilson, chairman of Mersey regional health authority, which acts as the centre of responsibility for the procurement and distribution of hearing aids in the National Health Service, is meeting representatives of hearing aid manufacturers today to discuss ways of increasing the number of commercial hearing aids and accessories which are supplied to patients by National Health Service audiology departments in addition to the 919W standard National Health Service range of hearing aids. We will also be considering in the Department ways of enabling patients requiring hearing aids to obtain them more easily. We expect to begin consultations in the autumn.
Secondly, I have asked my officials with the help of appropriate outside expert advice to draw up and consult interested bodies on a programme of action commencing in the new financial year to expand the number of direct referral schemes and set up a mechanism to evaluate them to ensure that they are operating with appropriate safeguards and are effective in reducing waiting times. Direct referral schemes would entail National Health Service patients being referred by their GPs direct to the audiology service for a hearing test and dispensing of hearing aids rather than going via hospital-based consultants.
Thirdly, my officials are currently involved in the development of a national vocational qualification in audiology. I have asked them to begin discussions in the autumn with professional bodies and other interested parties to examine the scope for a greater measure of integration between the service provided by National Health Service audiologists and that provided by private hearing aid dispensers.
I expect that these measures, together with the impact of the new Hearing Aid Council Act, which received Royal Assent earlier this month, will result in a substantial measure of improvement in service and greater choice for people who have a hearing impairment.
§ Mr. Ieuan Wyn JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment has been made by his Department of the likely impact of the forthcoming demographic changes in demand for hearing aid services.
§ Mr. FreemanThe Institute for Hearing Research has produced figures which suggest that the prevalence of hearing loss is greater in people aged 60 and over. However, not all of these people require hearing aids.