Digital Hearing Aids

HC Deb 04 March 2003 vol 400 cc980-1W

Mr. Rosindell

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many digital hearing aids have been issued by the NHS in the London Borough of Havering in the last 12 months; [99735]

(2) if he will make a statement on the availability of digital hearing aids in the London Borough of Havering; [99750]

(3) what proportion of the funding for digital hearing aids will be available to hospitals in the London Borough of Havering. [99749]

Mr. Hutton

Barking, Havering and Redbridge Hospitals National Health Service Trust will start to fit digital hearing aids routinely from the end of March. Audiology staff are currently being trained and new equipment is being installed.

We have recently announced that £94 million is being made available, over the next two years, to support the introduction of a modernised hearing aid service, including the provision of digital hearing aids, across the whole of England.

Primary care trusts are being asked to fund 25 per cent. of the additional revenue costs of a modernised service.