Anger As Cash Strapped NHS Trust Scraps Hearing Aids
November 15, 2002 12:00 AM
Stockport's Primary Care NHS Trust has backed out of a national scheme to provide deaf people with digital hearing aids. They say even though three quarters of the money comes as a grant they cannot afford to pay.
In a letter to Stockport's two liberal Democrat MPs, Patsy Calton and Andrew Stunell, Acting Chief Executive Alison Tonge says "Approval was withheld on the grounds of continuing financial restrictions"
Hazel Grove MP Andrew Stunell has condemned the decision, which means the earliest that NHS digital hearing aids will become available in the town is April 2004.
Mr Stunell says, "These aids are far superior to the old equipment. They cost under £100, and one of the main manufacturers is here in Stockport. With around 20,000 people registered with a hearing impairment in the town it is clear that many are going to be left putting up with second best."
According to Mr. Stunell it makes a mockery of claims that Labour have sorted out funding for the NHS.
"They are boasting about this high profile switch to digital, but here in Stockport the Trust they set up hasn't been given the money to deliver."
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