Written question asked by Baroness Howe of Idlicote (Crossbench), in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 20 July 2004. It was answered by Lord Warner (Labour) on Tuesday, 20 July 2004.

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Warner, Lord

Question

How many digital hearing aids have been distributed nationwide from National Health Service hearing aids since the digital scheme was announced in February; and what is the estimated number of National Health Service patients with hearing loss who would benefit from a switch from analogue to digital hearing aids; and what percentage of these have been supplied and fitted so far; and further to the remark by the Lord Ashley of Stoke on 13 February 2004, 644 c813, whether every National Health Service patient with hearing loss who would benefit from a switch to a digital hearing aid will be given the opportunity to switch to a digital instrument within the two year roll out of the digital scheme; and to what extent private sector technicians have been involved in the digital aid scheme so far; and what National Health Service evaluation has been made for the continuance of such a partnership with the private sector, once the roll-out period is completed; and whether the money ring-fenced for the digital hearing aid scheme roll-out will continue to be available for the supplying and fitting of digital hearing aids to National Health Service patients once the roll-out period is completed. [HL 3736;HL 3738;HL 3739;HL 3740;HL 3741]. - Inc figures.

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Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

664 c40-1WA; HL 3736;HL 3738;HL 3739;HL 3740;HL 3741

Session

2003-04

Subjects

Disability aids Digital technology Hearing impairment Finance Hearing aids Private sector NHS Patients Recipients Technicians

Contains statistics

Yes