Earl Howeasked Her Majesty's Government:
What has been the expenditure by the Department of Health on literature and publicity promoting hearing tests for each of the last five years. [HL4008]
§ Lord Hunt of Kings HeathWe are continuing to promote the correct use of hearing aids through the34WA booklet "How to use your hearing aid", at the following expense:
- November 1996: 100,000 copies costing £17,750
- August 1997: 45,000 copies at £10,000
- January 1998: 16,500 copies at £5,900
- March 1998: 50,000 copies at £12,090
We then changed to a larger print format which has been printed at the following expense:
- July 1998: 32,000 copies at £13,380
- January 1999: 100,000 copies at £24,875.
In June 1998 my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Health helped to launch the first phase of the Royal National Institute for Deaf People campaign which encourages people to seek the advice of their general practitioner as soon as they become aware of problems with their hearing.
In addition, we funded a health technology assessment review covering the accessibility, benefit and costs of early screening for hearing disability. The Medical Research Council Institute for hearing research, which will conduct this research, will look at the role of very early screening for 55 to 74 year-olds to find a cost-effective screening method for the ability to benefit from early hearing aid fitting.