UK starts pilot for digital hearing aids:
This article was originally published in Clinica
Executive Summary
The National Health Service (NHS) is to begin a two-year pilot project to identify the most effective way of introducing digital hearing-aid technology in England. Twenty sites have been chosen for the pilot, which will address, among other things, cost-effectiveness. The health ministry has allocated £4 million ($6 million) for the first year, with further funds available for the second. The NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency is in the process of purchasing hearing aids and they should be available to hospital trusts by the end of the summer. Earlier this year, the Audit Commission criticised hearing aid services in England and Wales for largely providing outdated analogue technology (see Clinica No 902, p 3).