I write in response to the letter from Colin Bennett about the video aid for deaf people (The Argus, August 5).

While I agree provision for hearing impaired people is pitifully under-resourced nationally, I do not support the notion that to deny provision to other needy people of the hearing impairment spectrum is an appropriate course of action.

At the Royal Sussex County Hospital we provide the best care available to those requiring hearing aids and the government has invested significant funds to allow NHS aids to match those of the private sector.

Despite this investment, there is an enormous unmet need, principally from those wearing analogue hearing aids wanting to upgrade to digital aids.

A large proportion of the 17,000 hearing aid users quoted in Mr Bennett's letter have approached us in the last six months, asking for such a change.

This has increased our waiting times to one year. We regret this delay and are actively seeking funding to reduce the wait.

Nonetheless, when seen, these people benefit from cutting edge technology and receive quality care.

The example given of sign interpreters is illustrative since no one would expect to arrive at an overseas medical resource and be explained their medical complaint in an inaccessible language without interpretation.

British Sign Language (BSL) is now an EC-recognised official language and I believe deaf people have the right to know what medical practitioners are advising them.

I encourage more GPs and hospital staff to be consistent in their signing provision and to recruit qualified interpreters not simply people who can sign.

There is a need to campaign for all people with deafness to secure necessary resources to meet their needs.

In-fighting will only become divisive and make funding harder to attract.

-Dr Robert Low, head of audiology, Royal Sussex County Hospital, Eastern Road, Brighton