Durham County Councillor Reg Ord, who has been on the waiting list for a cochlear implant for over a year, has written to NHS chiefs to demand action over the long waits for hearing aids.

Two months ago, 70-year-old Councillor Ord was told there were no funds to pay for the advanced cochlear implant he needs to hear properly again. Last week, when he met his consultants to discuss his case and was told that there was no prospect of being considered for an implant until the new financial year next April, Councillor Ord wrote to the chairman of County Durham Primary Care Trust, criticising the "lack of will" to help patients with severe hearing loss.

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