HL Deb 15 May 2002 vol 635 c59WA
Baroness Howe of Idlicote

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many people with a hearing loss have a National Health Service-supplied analogue hearing aid. [HL3746]

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath

The information requested is not available centrally. The Department of Health is working in partnership with the Royal National Institute for Deaf People to modernise hearing aid services. The modernisation project includes the provision of leading-edge digital hearing aids as part of a service designed around the needs of people with hearing impairment. Over £30 million has been made available to support the modernisation project. In addition to the existing 20 sites, at least another 30 sites will join the modernisation project this year.