WINCHESTER MP Mark Oaten, pictured, has welcomed the government's announcement of pilot sites for a hearing test for new-born babies.
Last month he was one of the sponsors of an Early Day Motion in Parliament calling for all babies to be tested for deafness.
One of the 20 new sites will be set up by the Southampton and South West Hampshire Health Authority.
According to Mr Oaten, out of every 840 children born deaf in the UK each year, the current health visitor distraction test will miss 400 by the age of 18 months and 200 by the age of three and a half years. The new pilot sites will replace this with a more sensitive test called Universal Neonatal Hearing Screening.
Mr Oaten said: "While I thoroughly welcome the announcement of 20 pilot sites, it should only be regarded as a first step.
"I urge the government to commit itself to a national roll-out of neonatal screening."
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