§ Mrs. Ray MichieTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what targets he has set for delivering deaf awareness training to general practitioners; and if he will make a statement. [41633]
§ Mr. GalbraithThere are no set targets for delivering deaf awareness training to general practitioners. However, my Department has recently issued guidance to all Health Boards and NHS Trusts reminding them of their responsibilities for having appropriate arrangements in place to ensure that deafblind people are afforded the 201W services of a guide/communicator when they attend hospital or GP surgery. This is now part of a wider agenda concerning people with disabilities which flows from the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, and in particular the provisions within the Act governing access to services and employment. I intend shortly to issue guidance to NHS Trusts in Scotland on applying this part of the Act, including specific reference to treatment of deaf and deafblind people.
§ Mrs. Ray MichieTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what resources have been made available for the provision of services for young deaf adults in each year since 1987; and if he will make a statement. [41634]
§ Mr. GalbraithThe information required to answer this question is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
§ Mrs. Ray MichieTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the current length of waiting lists for the provision of(a) a hearing test and (b) a hearing aid in each Scottish health board area. [41632]
§ Mr. GalbraithInformation on waiting lists at audiometry and hearing aids clinics is not collected centrally.