§ Mr. LawsTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to integrate provisions of digital hearing aids through the access to work scheme with NHS digital hearing aid provision; and if he will make a statement. [25368]
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§ Mr. McCartney[holding answer 11 January 2002]: The Department has no plans to integrate NHS and Access to Work digital hearing aid provision.
The Access to Work Programme helps disabled people gain, or keep, a job, by providing practical advice and support to disabled people and their employers to overcome specific work-related obstacles which result from disability. Providing funding towards the purchase of a digital hearing aid is one of the ways Access to Work can help. NHS digital hearing aid provision is not limited to work-related needs.
The Employment Service (ES) has met with the NHS Executive and its purchasing agency to explore how the ES might access NHS Trust contracts with suppliers on assessment for and supply of digital hearing aids.