HC Deb 21 April 1995 vol 258 c311W
Mrs. Beckett

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the(a) in-ear and (b) other hearing aids available on the NHS. [19789]

Mr. Bowis

A list of hearing aids available from central contract on the national health service in England via NHS Supplies will be placed in the Library. Hearing aid centres are also free to purchase and supply any other type of hearing aid if considered clinically necessary. Details are not kept centrally.

Mrs. Beckett

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the average waiting time for a hearing aid clinic in each of the last five years. [19791]

Mr. Bowis

This information is not held centrally, but, from April 1995, one of the new standards introduced under the patient's charter is nine out of 10 people can be expected to be seen within 13 weeks when they are referred by their GP to a hospital consultant; everyone is expected to be seen by 26 weeks.

Mrs. Beckett

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many hearing aid clinics there were in the NHS in each of the last five years. [19790]

Mr. Bowis

This information is not available centrally.