New paediatric audiology facility to bring care closer to home at the Horton General Hospital

Children and young people in Banbury and north Oxfordshire will be able to access specialist hearing assessments closer to home later this year, thanks to the creation of a new paediatric audiology room at Horton General Hospital.

The new facility, which is currently being developed, will provide a dedicated, fit-for-purpose environment for paediatric audiology services. It will include a soundproof room with specialist equipment, enabling clinicians to carry out a range of hearing assessments for children. 

The project represents an investment of approximately £300,000 and is expected to be completed in October.  

Currently, many children from north Oxfordshire need to travel to the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford for specialist audiology appointments. Once the new facility is operational, more patients will be able to receive care at Horton General Hospital, reducing travel times and making services more accessible for local families.

The development 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.

Rachel Humphriss, Clinical Scientist and Head of Audiology at OUH, said: “This is fantastic news for our young audiology patients in Banbury and the surrounding areas. This purpose-built facility will mean that they can attend their appointments much closer to home, as well as the benefits of specialist equipment and facilities.”

Felicity Taylor-Drewe, Chief Operating Officer at OUH, said: “This is a really welcome development, and a demonstration of our ongoing commitment to the Horton General Hospital.

“Reducing the need for families to travel to Oxford for appointments will improve convenience and support a better experience for our patients, while maintaining the high standards of care they expect from us.  Thank you to everyone for their ongoing hard work on this project.”