A new children’s audiology outpatients department at Banbury’s Horton General Hospital was opened by a 12-year-old patient.

Antony, from Bicester, cut the ribbon at the official opening event on Monday (October 26).

Sir Andrew Morris, chair of Oxford University Hospitals (OUH), Jamie French from Oxford Hospitals Charity and Rachel Humphriss, head of audiology at the Horton, also attended.

The £300,000-plus facility means children and young people can access specialist hearing assessments closer to home, rather than travel to the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford.

Chair of OUH, Sir Andrew Morris, Jamie French from Oxford Hospitals Charity, Rachel Humphriss, head of audiology with patient Antony cutting the ribbon at the front.

placeholder image — Chair of OUH, Sir Andrew Morris, Jamie French from Oxford Hospitals Charity, Rachel Humphriss, head of audiology with patient Antony cutting the ribbon at the front.

Sir Andrew Morris said: “It was lovely to meet staff at the Horton who provide this excellent and important service and to meet Antony and his family.

“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 was referred for further testing after not responding to his newborn hearing screening test, with his family initially told he might be deaf.

Two weeks later, he attended the audiology department for a more detailed assessment and was diagnosed as profoundly deaf.

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.”

Following hospital appointments and weekly home visits from a Teacher of the Deaf, Antony received cochlear implants at eight months old.

Mary said the implants had transformed his life, allowing him to hear almost as well as others, and praised the audiology team for supporting the family.

She said: “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.

“Finally, at eight months old, he received his cochlear implants, opening the door to a wonderful new world where he could hear so much better.”

Mary recalled the moment Antony heard her voice for the first time after his implants were switched on.

She said: “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.”