asked Her Majesty's Government:

What were the total number of audiologists working in the National Health Service for each of the years 2000 to 2005. [HL167]

Healthcare scientists in audiology were recorded for the first time in the 2004 workforce census. The table shows the number of qualified audiologists since 2004.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is their assessment of the extent to which their proposal to contract out most audiology services to the private sector is likely to reduce the availability of digital hearing aids in the National Health Service; and [HL325]

Whether they have evidence that primary care trusts will be able or willing to commission audiology services contracted out to the private sector sufficiently to satisfy clinical need. [HL326]

A national action plan for audiology is currently being developed to address issues around access and waiting times, including developing a strategic model for future service development. The working group that is developing the action plan will be considering the role of all stakeholders (statutory, private and third sector) in delivering an effective service that best meets clinical need.

In addition to the development of the action plan, the department has also announced the procurement of up to 300,000 audiology pathways to provide assessment, fitting and follow-up. Both of these measures will assist in significantly reducing waiting times and will greatly benefit those who receive hearing aids.

The public/private partnership (PPP) for audiology is proving to be very successful. The latest data for October 2006 show that about 50,000 patients have completed pathways through PPP. National Health Service trusts benefit from the increased capacity, competitive pricing and quality of service provision available through the PPP.

The modernising hearing aid services (MHAS) programme resulted in all NHS audiology services routinely fitting digital hearing aids. The development of the national action plan will build on the progress made with MHAS.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What steps they are taking to monitor the audiology services provided by the independent sector.[HL474]

There is currently a public/private partnership for the provision of digital hearing aids, governed by a national framework agreement. Local National Health Service organisations enter into contracts with independent sector providers under the terms of the national framework agreement. The agreement includes a number of contract terms to ensure that contractors provide services of appropriate quality to NHS patients. Any issues of quality that cannot be resolved locally may be escalated to the NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency.

The NHS is not mandated to use the national framework agreement and local NHS organisations are able to negotiate their own contracts with the independent sector if they wish. No central monitoring activity is undertaken with regard to locally negotiated contracts, although we would expect that robust governance arrangements are put in place.

A national procurement of audiology services is being undertaken as part of the second phase of the independent sector treatment centre programme. Registration by an independent sector provider with the Healthcare Commission is a prerequisite for all contracts awarded under this procurement. The department also has in place a robust central contract management framework for these services which includes clinical and non-clinical key performance indicators, which cover service levels, patient experience and quality of care.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What advice they have given to primary care trusts on the requirement to provide audiology services; and what provision will be made for patients who require follow-up treatment or who have complex needs.[HL475]

It is the responsibility of local health services to ensure their populations benefit from modernised audiology services, including patients who require follow up treatment or have complex needs. The modernising hearing aid services (MHAS) programme run by the Royal National Institute for the Deaf (RNID) on behalf of the department has resulted in all National Health Service audiology services routinely fitting digital hearing aids since April 2005.

The national framework contract public/private partnership, announced in October 2003, allows NHS trusts to use particular private hearing aid dispensers to see NHS patients. It ensures that the patient receives care to the same standard as applies in the NHS, is provided with the same hearing aids and remains the responsibility of the NHS. A national action plan for audiology will be published in early 2007. The action plan will be aimed at improving access and reducing waiting times for the service. We are developing the plan in close conjunction with stakeholders, with a view to publication in early 2007. The plan will set out strategy, measures, deliverables and timescales.

In addition to the development of the action plan, the department has also announced the procurement of up to 300,000 audiology pathways to provide assessment, fitting and follow up. The development of the action plan will build on the progress made through MHAS and the PPP to improve access to, and provision of, audiology services.