HC Deb 23 April 2002 vol 384 cc230-1W
Mr. Hunter

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the sites which will have the necessary training and equipment in place to fit digital hearing aids provided through the NHS contract from 2003–04. [43624]

Jacqui Smith

I announced the sites which will be joining the Modernising Hearing Aid Services project this financial year on 10 April 2002,Official Report, column 465W. We will shortly be approaching all those trusts not currently involved in the project to invite them to put themselves forward to receive the training and equipment necessary to prepare them to join the project after April 2003. An announcement will be made in due course.

Mr. Hunter

To ask the Secretary of State for Health which NHS trusts(a) provide digital hearing aids and (b) will be fitting digital hearing aids by the end of 2002–03. [43623]

Jacqui Smith

The following 20 trusts are currently providing digital hearing aids as part of the Modernising Hearing Aid Services project.

  • Addenbrookes NHS Trust
  • James Paget Healthcare NHS Trust
  • Royal National Throat Nose and Ear Hospital
  • Whipps Cross University Hospital NHS Trust
  • Bradford Hospitals NHS Trust
  • Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
  • City Hospitals Sunderland NHS Trust
  • Trafford Healthcare NHS Trust
  • Morecambe Bay Hospitals NHS Trust
  • Royal United Bath Hospital NHS Trust
  • United Bristol Healthcare NHS Trust (Children)
  • Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust
  • East Berkshire Community Health NHS Trust
  • Royal Berkshire and Battle Hospitals NHS Trust
  • Winchester and Eastleigh Healthcare NHS Trust
  • Queens Medical Centre University NHS Trust Nottingham
  • The Kings Mill Centre for Healthcare Services NHS Trust
  • Sheffield Children's Hospital NHS Trust (Children)
  • University Hospital Birmingham NHS Trust
  • Royal Shrewsbury and Princess Royal Hospitals NHS Trust.

In addition an announcement was made on 10 April of those trusts who will be joining the project this financial year, 10 April 2002, Official Report, column 465W.

We know that a number of other trusts are obtaining digital hearing aids through the NHS contract and that others are providing digital aids outside of that contract. Full details are not available centrally.