Personal Health Technology

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Personal health technology

Manufacturer	(unknown)
Production years	(unknown)
Production location	(unknown)

Personal health technology

The National Health Service was about small things, such as hearing aids and spectacles, as well as big new technologies. The NHS controlled the design and price of these technologies, improving the quality of life for millions of people. In the 1950s the NHS was supplying five million pairs of spectacles every year.

1 How it works
2 Memories
3 In the Science Museum
4 Images

[edit] How it works

Hearing aids amplify sound then repeat it though a small loudspeaker within the ear of the wearer. This can greatly improve quality of life for the hearing impaired.

Spectacles can aid people with poor vision if the lens on the front of the eye is the wrong shape. In this case the glasses are specially made with another lens to distort the light comming into the eye so that it is able to be seen correctly through the wearer’s own eyes.

[edit] Memories

Do you remember NHS Glasses and Hearing aids? Add your memories.

[edit] In the Science Museum

1. National Health Service hearing aid, worn behind the ear, 1950–90. By 1968 the NHS had supplied 60,000 hearing aids, from ear trumpets to miniature models like this.

Source: B P C Howarth-Loomes Inv. No: 1999-287

2. Five National Health Service body-worn hearing aids, model OL56, marked as ‘Government Property’, manufactured by Medresco, England, 1960–80.

Source: Help the Aged Inv. No: 2002-283

3. National Health Service rest spectacles, gold plated, plastic-coated rims and rests, by Algha, 1948–60.

Source: Wellcome Trust Inv. No: A681240

4. National Health Service coil-spring spectacles, gold plated, plastic-coated rims, by Algha, 1948–60.

Source: Wellcome Trust Inv. No: A681232

5. National Health Service rest spectacles, plastic, 1948–65.

Source: Wellcome Trust Inv. No: A681249

6. National Health Service coil-spring spectacles, 1955–69.

Source: Wellcome Trust Inv. No: A681246