NATIONAL TINNITUS WEEK 2008

Early day motion 807, tabled 29 January 2008 by David Taylor (Labour). Signed by 102 members.

That this House notes that tinnitus is a noise in the head with no corresponding external source, which severely affects almost 2.3 million or five per cent. of the adult population in the UK; observes that sufferers can be debilitated and that symptoms can range from disturbed sleep to behavioural changes which can destroy relationships and turn healthy people into recluses unable to work or enjoy a normal life; believes that there needs to be an increased focus on this condition, giving it a proper priority within the NHS; accepts that increased funding and greater awareness would give immeasurable help to sufferers in the UK; applauds the efforts of the British Tinnitus Association (BTA) during National Tinnitus Week, 11th to 17th February; supports the BTA's decision to fund a three year Research Fellowship at the Ear Institute, UCL, which has been made possible by the generosity of members and by legacies; and therefore calls on the Government to match this funding and to give tinnitus a higher priority in the NHS.

Signatures by party: Labour 57, Liberal Democrat 23, Conservative 13, DUP 3, Independent 3, Plaid Cymru 1, Social Democratic and Labour Party 1, UUP 1.