Digital Hearing Aids Arrive at Last

11.41.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 8th Nov 2004

Three years after the Government promised a full 'roll out' of free digital hearing aids to local people with hearing problems who need them, there is now a realistic prospect of getting them within the next year.

Vincent Cable MP ran a campaign several years ago drawing attention to the difficulties faced by residents with hearing problems who were being obliged to use inferior NHS equipment or pay up to £2,500 for private sets. Ministers then promised that everyone who needed them could have the digital sets, and money has been provided. What is now holding up the issue of digital sets is lack of trained people in the West Middlesex, Kingston and Queen Mary, Roehampton to test potential users. But he Primary Care Trust is saying that, next year, the hearing aids will be available.

Vincent Cable said: "the mills of the NHS do grind very slowly. A lot of elderly people have a poor quality of life because they cannot hear properly. Better equipment is available. But the system has been so slow getting it to those who can benefit that a lot of people have given up, or raided their savings to fit the digital aids privately.

"Even next year, a lot of people will still be disappointed since those who have had aids with existing technology fitted within three years will not be eligible.

"But, at long last, hundreds will be helped in the next few months."