§ Mr. BoswellTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what the percentage cost is to the NHS of(a) a digital hearing aid and (b) an analogue aid; and what the differential was 12 months ago. [71758]
§ Jacqui SmithUnder the national health service contract, digital hearing aids had been available at a cost of between £140 and £205 each, for moderately powered aids. The contracts and prices have been renegotiated by a team set-up by Ministers and led by James Strachan, Chief Executive of Royal National Institute for the Deaf, which includes representatives from the Department and the Purchasing and Supply Agency (PASA), and allows moderate powered digital aids to be purchased at £65 to £75 each plus value added tax (VAT).
1092WThe cost of a moderately powered NHS analogue aid ranges from £59 to £126 each plus VAT.