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Royal National Institute for Deaf People Website

Department of Health Website

PRESS RELEASE

Thursday 5th October 2000

NHS FITS FIRST DIGITAL HEARING AIDS

£25 million investment in plan for 21st Century audiology services

Health Minister, John Hutton MP, will be visiting Addenbrooke’s today, Thursday 5 October, to meet with staff and patients in the Audiology department.

The Minister will be seeing the first digital hearing aids fitted on the NHS. This is part of a £4 million project involving twenty NHS Trusts.

Health minister John Hutton said

"Digital hearing aid technology has, until now, only been available to those who could afford it. Now we are introducing its benefits to those who use the NHS.

"Improving hearing aid services in this way provides a practical example of our ambition to modernise the NHS. Patients who need hearing aids should have access to the best available technology and on-going support.

"If this project proves a success, a further £25 million will be provided to extend this modernisation across the NHS in England".

Note to editors:

The Trusts involved are:

Addenbrookes NHS Trust
James Paget Healthcare NHS Trust
Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust (Royal National Throat, Nose & Ear Hospital)
Forest Healthcare NHS Trust
Bradford Hospitals NHS Trust
Leeds Teaching NHS Trust
Trafford Healthcare NHS Trust
East Berkshire Community Health NHS Trust
Royal Berkshire and Battle Hospitals NHS Trust
Queens Medical Centre University NHS Trust Nottingham
Sheffield Children’s Hospital NHS Trust
University Hospital Birmingham NHS Trust
Royal Shrewsbury NHS Trust
City Hospitals Sunderland NHS Trust
Morecambe Bay Hospitals NHS Trust
United Bristol Healthcare NHS Trust
Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust
The Kings Mill Centre for Healthcare Services NHS Trust

Further information may also be found on the Department of Health website at: www.doh.gov.uk