New Paediatric Audiology Unit Opens at Horton General Hospital
Specialist hearing assessments are now closer to home for children in north Oxfordshire thanks to a new £300,000 facility.
By Laura Medhurst
••3 min read
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Generic image of a hospital's specialised audiology room with soundproof booth and equipment.
A new, state-of-the-art Paediatric Audiology Outpatients Department has officially opened at the Horton General Hospital, offering specialist hearing assessments closer to home for children and young people in Banbury and north Oxfordshire.
The new facility, funded by NHS England and Oxford Hospitals Charity at a cost of over £300,000, aims to improve access to care and relieve pressure on services at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford. The creation of the dedicated room involved significant building work, including the installation of a six-tonne modular soundproof booth.
The purpose-built environment is equipped with specialist equipment to enable clinicians to carry out a range of hearing assessments for children. This development supports the NHS Long Term Plan's commitment to delivering care closer to home.
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"This new unit supports the NHS Long Term Plan's commitment to delivering care closer to home, ensuring patients can access high-quality services in locations that are convenient for them whenever possible."
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"We are so pleased to be in this fantastic new space which is so much better for our young audiology patients in Banbury and the surrounding areas. This purpose-built facility means that they can attend their appointments much closer to home, while having the benefits of specialist equipment and facilities."
The new department was officially opened on Monday 26 October by 12-year-old patient Antony from Bicester, alongside Sir Andrew Morris, Jamie French from the Horton Hospitals Charity, and Rachel Humphriss.
Antony, who was diagnosed as profoundly deaf at a young age, underwent cochlear implant surgery at eight months old. His mother, Mary, expressed her gratitude for the audiology team's support throughout their journey, highlighting how the new facility will benefit many families in the region.
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"We were delighted that Antony was picked to officially open the new Paediatric Audiology Outpatient department at the Horton General. It will make a difference to lots of families in north Oxfordshire and the Banbury area who are able to get appointments nearer to home. The staff who work in the service have been really helpful for Antony and our family and this new space will make their jobs easier too. It is good news!"
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"We were delighted to be able to support these major improvements to help ensure the best possible accuracy to test and monitor hearing loss, and make hospital visits more fun and interactive for children. We are truly grateful to all those who support our charity to make this possible."
