UK nears digital hearing technology verdict:
This article was originally published in Clinica
Executive Summary
The Institute of Hearing Research (IHR) is due to report on its evaluation of the UK's digital hearing aid pilot project in February 2002, health secretary Jacqui Smith has announced in parliament. If the project is successful, the government anticipates spending an extra £25 million ($35 million) on NHS hearing aid services in 2003-04. The IHR's findings should help determine how best to extend the provision of digital hearing technology throughout the NHS, but will be subject to an assessment by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence in its review of the technology, also due in 2002. In August 2000, NICE found "insufficient evidence" to support its introduction nationally (see Clinica No 933, p 8).