§ Dr. HarrisTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will take steps to(a) monitor the level of NHS hearing aids that go unused after being provided by adult audiology and hearing aid services and (b) increase the level of use of NHS hearing aids amongst current owners; [54426]
(2) what assessment he has made of the level of customer satisfaction from users of NHS adult audiology and hearing aid services; [54425]
(3) what assessment his Department has made of the level of awareness amongst NHS hearing aid users of the role and benefits of the T switch on hearing aids. [54427]
§ Mr. BoatengThe type of hearing aid provided under the National Health Service is a matter for the clinician concerned, in consultation with the patient. A central unit of the NHS Supplies Authority negotiates contracts with manufacturers for the supply of a standard range of NHS hearing aids which meet the needs of the majority of patients. It is for hearing aid centres to purchase and supply an alternative model if the clinician considers that it is clinically necessary for an individual patient. The NHS does not directly monitor the number of hearing aids that are not used, but independent research suggests that a significant number of hearing aids may not be used or are not used effectively.
We do not have any plans to commission research into customer satisfaction of audiology services at the moment.
790W
Total number of patients aged 75 and over ready for discharge but still occupying a hospital bed because they are: Region awaiting local authority funding awaiting completion of assessment Total number of patients aged 75 and over ready for discharge but still occupying a hospital bed Total number of patients aged 75 and over occupying an acute hospital bed Northern and Yorkshire 155 243 846 7,258 Trent 37 95 454 4,923 Anglia and Oxford 120 140 754 4,608 North Thames 347 376 1,231 6,346 South Thames 102 205 780 6,617 The Departmental publication "How to use your hearing aid" which is extremely popular with audiology service users, includes a chapter on using the T position on the control switch of hearing aids.