PARLIAMENTARY EARLY DAY MOTION
TESTING NEW-BORN BABIES FOR DEAFNESS (18 December 2000)

That this House notes the recent MORI findings showing overwhelming public demand for testing newborn babies for deafness; notes with concern that out of the 840 children born deaf in the United Kingdom every year, the current health visitor distraction test will miss 400 by 18 months of age and 200 by 42 months of age, with serious implications for a child's language and educational development and long-term life chances; understands that, despite the existence of the necessary technology, the cost effectiveness of neo-natal testing and the desire of over 85 per cent. of parents across the United Kingdom to know within days of its birth whether their child is deaf, at present most babies are not diagnosed until after their first birthday; welcomes Her Majesty's Government's decision to introduce neonatal hearing screening to 20 National Health Service sites in England over the next seven months; calls on Her Majesty's Government to respond positively to the MORI findings by reassuring parents and organisations of deaf and hard of hearing people of its commitment to a national roll-out of the screening of new-born babies for deafness; and further calls on Her Majesty's; Government to confirm without delay a timetable of roll-out to enable National Health Service commissioners and providers to plan with confidence and help ensure a joined-up approach to the development of screening procedures, paediatric audiology services and the ongoing information and support services provided to families of deaf babies by local education authorities.

Sponsored by:
Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Labour)