§ Mr. VazTo ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he plans to provide to the public more information and a wider education programme on the facts surrounding loss of hearing.
§ Mr. FreemanThe Department publishes the booklet "How to use your hearing aid" which is issued free to all NHS hearing aid users. It gives useful general advice and includes reference to other services which may be of help to hearing impaired people. The Department of Social Security publishes leaflet NI 207 on occupational deafness which explains how industrial injuries disablement benefit may be claimed. There are no plans to issue any additional guidance at present. The Royal National Institute for the Deaf has however, referred to the need for better information for consumers in their "Fair Hearing" campaign document "Hearing Aids—The Case for Change", and we shall be considering this along with the other proposals that it has put forward.
§ Mr. VazTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he has any plans to implement the Royal National Institute for the Deaf proposal, set out in the document "Hearing Aids—a Case for Change", for a new system of dispensing hearing aids, and helping the deaf or hard of hearing to obtain help;
(2) if he will make a statement on his Department's review of its policy on hearing aid provision and services; what proposals he has to improve counselling to those who are deaf or hard of hearing; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MellorWe are grateful to the Royal National Institute for the Deaf for their comprehensive package of proposals relating to the provision of hearing aids. We102W have now received their refined proposals which take into account the comments they have received from other interested organisations. The issues involved are complex and because of the wide-ranging implications of any change in the present system of provision, we shall need to take time to consider them, in the light of the views of all concerned. We shall of course bear fully in mind the need for rehabilitation and after-care services for those who are deaf or hard of hearing.
§ Mr. VazTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will take steps to widen the range of hearing aids available on the National Health Service to cover cosmetically designed hearing aids.
§ Mr. MellorThe National Health Service range of hearing aids is provided to ameliorate loss of hearing rather than for cosmetic reasons. In-the-ear hearing aids, which are sometimes regarded as more cosmetically acceptable, can be provided where an NHS consultant can see clear clinical reasons for doing so. Skin tone hearing aids are available in each of the NHS series of behind-the-ear aids.
§ Mr. VazTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will implement stricter regulations concerning compensation and maintenance cover for users of hearing aids;
(2) what is his policy towards free maintenance of hearing aids in the public and private sectors.
§ Mr. MellorRoutine maintenance of all hearing aids issued under National Health Service arrangements is free. However, the cost of repair or replacement of a hearing aid may be recovered in cases of repeated loss or damage from patients or parents of children who are patients. Hearing aids provided by the private sector are the responsibility of my right hon. and noble Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry.