Munira Wilson, MP for Twickenham, opened a second paediatric audiology screening room at Teddington Memorial Hospital today (13 June). More local children with hearing problems will now get the care they need quickly.
Today’s ribbon-cutting ceremony marked the official opening of a new children’s hearing screening room at Teddington Memorial Hospital, run by Hounslow and Richmond Community Healthcare (HRCH).
Audiologists from the hospital joined local MP Munira Wilson at the opening ceremony, along with HRCH chief executive Jo Farrar and TMH League of Friends Chairman Reverend Simon Douglas Lane.
Jo Farrar said: “This is a fantastic extension to the Richmond audiology service and means we can help about 800 more children a year get the support they need close to home. We are extremely grateful for the continuing support we receive from the League of Friends, who made this possible.”
Staff are delighted with the new room, which has been refurbished to an extremely high standard, with funding of £67,000 from the League of Friends.
The new room means audiologists can now run two clinics alongside each other for children under 3 years old and over 3 years old. Every patient who was seen on Monday was there for the very first time.
Munira Wilson said: “I’m delighted to see the new children’s hearing screening room for myself – and to meet the team’s dedicated staff, along with some of the families and children they support. This transformation in Teddington Memorial Hospital’s audiology services will mean even more children in our community can be diagnosed and get the support they need.”
Reverend Simon Douglas Lane added: “Heartfelt thanks go to our many League of Friends supporters in the community who, by their efforts, have allowed us to fund this project. It is so important for the League to continue its fundraising efforts in the community, so we can continue to fund improvements to our beloved hospital.”
The League of Friends have funded several improvements at the hospital through community donations and fundraising, including the complete refurbishment of the reception area in the urgent treatment centre and new radiology equipment.
Notes to editors
Good hearing is critical for a child’s comprehension and speech development, but hearing problems in young children are not always obvious. The audiology service screens children early on in life, to identify hearing difficulties and address them as soon as possible.
The service offers local parents the convenience of minimal travel and waiting times, their children are seen in comfortable, reassuring surroundings and staff now have all the facilities they need to deliver excellent care.
The new, purpose-built, well-equipped, soundproof screening room meets national standards on noise level reduction. As a result, paediatric audiologists will be able to screen nearly 800 more patients a year at the hospital.
The service can also operate five days a week, which means it can see a greater volume of patients. This means new referrals will be seen more quickly, reducing the number of young patients on the waiting list.
The service is now working towards accreditation under the new improved version 2 of the Improving Quality in Physiological Diagnostic Services (IQIPS) Standard. IQIPS is a professional assessment and accreditation scheme which recognises healthcare organisations that ensure patients receive consistently high-quality services, tests, examinations and procedures, delivered by competent staff working in safe environments.
Hounslow and Richmond Community Healthcare NHS Trust provides community health services for around 523,000 people registered with GPs in the London boroughs of Hounslow and Richmond, but also serves a wider population across south west London for a range of more specialist services.
Every day its professionals provide high-quality healthcare in people’s homes and convenient local clinics. The trust helps people stay well in the community, manage their own health with the right support and avoid stays in hospital.
It employs around 1,300 people, who work across a wide range of health centres, hospitals, GP surgeries, children’s centres, local council facilities and in community centres, as well as in people’s homes.
The League of Friends is an essential part of the community supporting staff and patients of Teddington Memorial Hospital by enabling and enhancing the quality and quantity of the provision of medical services, facilities and general improvements above the NHS funded baseline, ensuring the long-term future of the hospital.