§ Mr. WorthingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what calculation he has made of the numbers of profoundly deaf children who would benefit from cochlear implants;
(2) what is the cost of a cochlear implant operation for a profoundly deaf child; and how many children in Scotland have received this operation in the current financial year;
(3) what representations he has received from the surgeons carrying out cochlear implants in Scotland about the best age for carrying out this operation; and what he is doing to match funding to the number of children needing this operation.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonThe national services division of the common services agency, which is responsible for purchasing this service, has commissioned an assessment of need for paediatric cochlear implantation in Scotland which will be published shortly. The findings of this report will inform future provision and funding levels for the service.
No representations have been received from surgeons carrying out cochlear implants in Scotland about the best age for undertaking the operation. A recent Medical 769W Research Council evaluation study has indicated that, in general terms, cochlear implantation has favourable outcomes up to the age of seven years.
The cost of a paediatric cochlear implant operation is £28,725 in 1994–95. Five children have received this operation in Scotland in the current financial year. The numbers of children referred for operation to centres outwith Scotland is not held centrally.