MP Supports National Deaf Children's Society

11.36.00am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 12th Aug 2008

Member of Parliament for Hereford, Paul Keetch, is lending his support to the National Deaf Children's Society in their quest to ensure that all Primary Care Trusts provide services to profoundly deaf children and adults, especially in relation to the use of cochlear implants.

The MP has written to Chris Bull, Chief Executive of Herefordshire PCT to seek reassurance that services are provided for those in need and to request details of the funding arrangements for cochlear implants for children and adults alike.

Commenting, Paul Keetch MP said, "In terms of deaf children, with the introduction of newborn hearing screening programme, hearing loss is now being identified very early in life. Early intervention is crucial for the development of all deaf children. However, I am told that many parents report having to wait unacceptably long periods for cochlear implants. Waits of over a year are not uncommon and in fact many parents are being told that they will have to wait for the next financial year for a cochlear implant - because the primary care trust has already used their annual allocation of funding for cochlear implants.

"Very few primary care trusts fund bilateral cochlear implants for children, despite the evidence that this technology can help children locate the direction of sound and identify speech in noisy surroundings. Bilateral cochlear implantation is standard in many European countries.

"This deeply concerns me. If a deaf child is assessed as an appropriate candidate for cochlear implantation, it is vital they are implanted as soon as possible so that they can begin to develop language, without further delay. If this is not the case, it stands to reason that many deaf children will struggle to be included in family life and conversations, and to perform as well as their hearing peers in school.

"Deaf adults are also being forced to wait excessively long periods and I am also aware that some PCTs are not funding implantation at all for adults. I believe that these adults are being denied an operation that could drastically improve their communication skills, confidence and overall quality of life. I look forward to a positive response from Chris Bull."

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Notes to Editors

Further information is available at www.ndcs.org.uk