28th
January 2005
£600,000 to Cut Wait for Digital Hearing
Aids
People with hearing problems in
Inverclyde could see their waiting time for a digital hearing aid slashed,
thanks to a £600,000 cash injection from the Scottish Executive.
MSP
for Greenock and Inverclyde, Duncan McNeil, who has been campaigning for better
audiology services in the area, says the news will be welcomed by his
constituents who have developed hearing problems after working in heavy
industry.
“Working
in heavy industry has seriously damaged many of my constituents’ hearing,”
he said today.
“It’s
hardly surprising, then, that despite the best efforts of hardworking and
dedicated staff, the NHS cannot keep up with the demand for digital hearing aids
in former industrial areas such as ours.
“I
know how frustrating it can be, when technological advances such these are
available, having to suffer, literally, in silence.
“That’s
why I have been campaigning for action to cut waiting times and, when I
questioned Deputy Health Minister, Rhona Brankin, in the Chamber the other week,
she recognised our particular problems here.
“She therefore met with me
this week to discuss how to get the waiting times down and I am delighted by the
news that we are investing £587,432
in audiology services in Argyll and Clyde this year – a 260% increase on last
year.
“This
extra cash means there will be more space and more staff, giving more people the
chance to get their digital hearing aid more quickly.
It will help clear the digital hearing aid backlog by paying staff
overtime, so that the service can operate at weekends and I have also been in
talks with the Minister about engaging the services of outside contractors.”
ENDS
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