BRADFORD INVITED TO JOIN OTHER CENTRES OF EXCELLENCE IN NEW WORLDWIDE DRIVE TO IMPROVE TREATMENT FOR HEARING LOSS

Good afternoon, Please see below for a press release from Bradford Royal Infirmary’s audiology team, who has become the only UK member of a new international network of centres specialising in cochlear and other hearing implants.

BRADFORD'S surgical expertise in helping deaf people to hear sounds again is to be shared on a worldwide stage. The audiology team at Bradford Royal Infirmary has become the only UK member of a new international network of centres specialising in cochlear and other hearing implants. Consultant ENT surgeon Mr Chris Raine travelled from Bradford to Warsaw for the launch of the new network, which pools the expertise of 17 centres of excellence worldwide. BRI is home to the regional cochlear implant service, helping hundreds of people with varying degrees of deafness to hear sounds again since its launch 15 years ago. Called HEARRING, the new network also includes experts from Austria, Belgium, Poland, Germany, France, Spain, the People’s Republic of China, Columbia, India, Australia, Argentina, Russia, Canada and Switzerland Mr Raine said: "It is a coup for Bradford to be handed an international role in improving the care and treatment for people who suffer from hearing loss. "HEARRING is the first international network of its kind and brings together the world's leading hearing implant centres. "By sharing our knowledge and experience, we hope to set new scientific and clinical standards, and raise the quality of patient care to another level." The most important aims of all 17 HEARRING members are commonly defined highest standards for scientific research, training, requirements of clinical staff and patient care from first the counselling session and surgery up to rehabilitation after the operation. Prof. Dr. Henryk Skarzynski, director of the Institute for Hearing Physiology and Pathology in Warsaw-Kajetany, said: “The HEARRING network is a collaboration of numerous specialists providing the best possible treatment with implantable devices for the hearing impaired, enabling them to hear a world of sounds.” • Further information about the network is available from www.hear-ring.com