Date: 4th June 2003
Released by: ANDREW TURNER

Ministers have failed to explain why Islanders suffer unfairly in the ‘postcode lottery’ for access to digital hearing aids on the NHS. But they have promised Island MP Andrew Turner that digital hearing aids will be available everywhere by April 2005.

In the House of Commons yesterday Mr Turner welcomed the Government’s target, but asked why Ministers’ messages about availability of the service differ from those of Island health managers.

Mr Turner said,
“I welcome the Government’s promise of ‘jam tomorrow’ – or at least jam in 2005 – for those needing digital hearing aids, but Ministers still haven’t explained why they are available today, free on the NHS, in wealthy places on the mainland but not to Islanders.

“I asked the Minister why she was saying that out-of-area referrals could take place to Winchester, when Graham Elderfield and David Crawley are both take the view that ‘there is no referring outside area’. I’m afraid I was given no answer. There is a shortage of NHS audiologists, but there are plenty in the private sector who are willing to dispense digital hearing aids. The Government should make aids available, using private sector dispensers, at the NHS contract price of £200 rather than forcing people to pay £1000 to go private or wait until 2005.

Notes:

Extract from House of Commons Hansard (3rd June 2003, col. 5):

3rd June 2003, col. 5

Digital Hearing Aids

2. Mr. Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight): If [the Secretary of State for Health] will make a statement on the provision of digital hearing aids. [116525]

The Minister of State, Department of Health (Jacqui Smith): Over the next two years, we are investing £94 million to make the benefits of digital hearing aids fitted as part of a modernised service available more widely on the NHS. All NHS hearing aid centres in England will be providing digital hearing aids by April 2005.

Mr. Turner : I am glad to hear it, but my constituents are concerned that they have to pay for digital hearing aids, while in wealthier places on the mainland, they are available free on the NHS. Will the Minister explain why she wrote on 27 May:

"If the services commissioned by a PCT . . . do not meet the needs of a particular patient, then GPs do also have freedom to refer elsewhere using the Out of Area . . . arrangements",

while my health trust and PCT both confirm that the nearest pilot site is Winchester and that there is no referring outside area?

Jacqui Smith: That is why it is important that everybody, wherever they live, gets access to digital hearing aids on the NHS. St. Mary's hospital in the hon. Gentleman's constituency is keen to take part in the modernising hearing aids scheme, and by April 2005 it will have the opportunity to do so. His constituents, along with those in the whole of England, will, for the first time, be able to get their digital hearing aids not by going private, but through the NHS.