asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of the long delays being experienced by applicants to the Eastern Health Board for hearing aids and particularly the delays being experienced by persons (details supplied) in Dublin 7 who applied for hearing aids in 1985 but to date have not been supplied with them.
Written Answers. - Provision of Hearing Aids.
90.
Applications made to the Eastern Health Board for hearing aids are referred to the National Rehabilitation Board which provide a nationwide hearing aid service for eligible persons on behalf of the health boards. For persons in the Eastern Health Board area the present waiting time from receipt of an application by the National Rehabilitation Board to first consultation is five months. The waiting time has lengthened in the past two years due to a significant increase in demand. To meet this demand the National Rehabilitation Board recruited an additional audiometrician in July 1985 and have also increased the number of their clinical sessions. The board monitor the service regularly to minimise delays. Applications in respect of the persons mentioned were received by the National Rehabilitation Board in November 1985 and the persons will be called for a consultation in April 1986.