Oral question asked in the House of Lords, by Lord Ashley of Stoke (Labour). It was answered on Tuesday, 25 July 2006.

NHS: Audiology

Question: My Lords, nevertheless, will my noble friend confirm that some 30,000 deaf people have had to wait for over a year to get their first hearing test? Would he not agree that the present position of deaf people waiting is very sad? Would he also not agree that services for deaf people have been very slow in coming forth and that they have been excluded from the 18-week waiting-time target for other people? Why should deaf people be discriminated against like this?

Answer: My Lords, as my noble friend knows, we have made a huge investment in these services and are, to some extent, the victims of our success. I acknowledge that there are long waits for audiology services and for assessment for hearing aid fittings. To tackle them, I am pleased to announce today that as part of the second phase of the procurement of diagnostics from the independent sector, I have decided that an additional 300,000 patient pathways will be procured. That will start to produce services in the form of assessments, fitting and follow-up for people with hearing difficulties from the early part of 2007.

Secondary information

Type: Oral question
Reference: 684 c1641-2
Session: 2005-06
Oral question type: 1st Supplementary
Chamber / Committee: House of Lords chamber
Related items: Health: Audiology
Monday, 18 December 2006
Written questions
House of Lords
Subjects: Hearing impairment Hospitals Health services Waiting lists
Link: View this Oral question on www.publications.parliament.uk