Children in Banbury and north Oxfordshire can now have specialist hearing tests at the Horton instead of the John Radcliffe, in a £300,000 soundproofed unit.
Children from Banbury and north Oxfordshire who need specialist hearing tests no longer have to make the trip to the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford. A new paediatric audiology outpatients department has opened at the Horton General Hospital in Banbury, and Oxford University Hospitals (OUH) says it will also take pressure off the children’s audiology department at the JR.
The unit was officially opened on Monday 26 October by 12-year-old patient Antony, from Bicester. He was joined by the OUH chair, Sir Andrew Morris, Jamie French of Oxford Hospitals Charity and Rachel Humphriss, the trust’s Head of Audiology. It has been taking appointments since earlier this month. (OUH newsroom, 29 October 2026)
A six-tonne booth in a former meeting room
The trust says the work cost more than £300,000, paid for by NHS England and Oxford Hospitals Charity. A former meeting room was converted, and the floor had to be reinforced to take the modular soundproof booth, which weighs six tonnes. Inside is specialist equipment for a range of hearing assessments for children.
The service sees children from birth to 18. It diagnoses hearing loss, talks families through the options, fits and adjusts hearing aids, and refers children on to ENT, paediatrics or the Auditory Implant Programme where they need it. It works alongside Teachers of the Deaf and voluntary services. The same paediatric audiology team staffs both the Horton and the JR.
Children with hearing aids need regular checks, the trust says, because hearing can change and growing children need refitting. For families in the north of the county, that has meant repeated journeys to Headington.
Rachel Humphriss, Clinical Scientist and Head of Audiology at OUH, said:
“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.”
Sir Andrew Morris said it had been “lovely to meet staff at the Horton who provide this excellent and important service and to meet Antony and his family”, adding:
“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.”
Antony’s story
Every newborn has been screened for hearing problems shortly after birth for the last 23 years. When Antony’s ears did not respond to that test, his family were told he might be deaf. Two weeks later an in-depth assessment at the audiology department found he was profoundly deaf, and a further test two weeks after that confirmed it.
His mother, Mary, said:
“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!”
She described the early weeks:
“The audiology team was always incredibly supportive and never made me feel alone throughout this journey. They were always so kind, explained everything to me in great detail, and greeted me with a big smile every time, giving me so much hope. At the beginning, when you receive a diagnosis like this for your baby, it feels as though the ground has been pulled out from under your feet.
“After the diagnosis, we had regular visits to the audiology department until he was assigned a Teacher of the Deaf, who visited us at home every week. She adjusted his hearing aid as his ear grew and helped him discover new sounds and adapt to his new world of sound.”
Antony had cochlear implants fitted at eight months old.
“On the day his implants were switched on, he smiled so much and looked at me in disbelief, almost as if he were thanking me as he heard my voice for the first time. He was still such a tiny baby, but the whole process went incredibly well and smoothly.
“Today, my lovely son can hear almost as well as the rest of us! Thank you to the fantastic Audiology Department for being by my side every step of the way, never leaving me to face this journey alone. I will always be grateful for the kindness, care and support they have shown us.”
The charity’s part
Jamie French, Interim Programme Manager at Oxford Hospitals Charity, said:
“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.”
What it means for you
- If your child is seen by OUH’s paediatric audiology service and you live in or near Banbury, ask the team whether their next appointment can be at the Horton.
- Families in Oxford should find the JR department less stretched as north Oxfordshire children move to Banbury, the trust says.
- Questions about the service go to Oxford University Hospitals.
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