§ Mr. ChopeTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what action the Government is taking to guarantee that everyone in Dorset who can benefit from a digital hearing aid provided on the NHS will have received one by April 2005; [145050]
(2) how many people in Dorset he estimates may benefit from digital hearing aids; and what proportion of these will have been fitted with digital hearing aids by 1 April (a) 2004 and (b) 2005. [145051]
§ Dr. Ladyman[holding answer 18 December 2003]: The question of whether someone can benefit from a digital hearing aid is one of clinical judgment. The Modernising Hearing Aid Services Project, in which the Government are investing £94 million for the two financial years 2001–04 and 2004–05, will ensure that all audiology departments in England will be fitting digital hearing aids routinely by April 2005.