Construction at Norfolk and Norwich disrupting hearing tests

Construction work at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital has been ongoing for several months, as three major expansion projects continue to take shape.

But a knock-on effect of the schemes has been causing disruption for the hospital's audiology department, its board of directors has heard.

The construction work has largely been focused on three projects - new theatres at the Jenny Lind Children's Hospital, an orthopaedic centre and a diagnostics centre.

However, the hospital's board of directors have heard that noise pollution from the works was wreaking havoc with hearing tests - with staff lobbying for bosses to spend £70,000 on improving soundproofing in the department.

Chris Cobb, the hospital's chief operating officer, who visited the department, told the board: "Hearing tests in the audiology department have not been taking place happily because of the building work outside.

"Staff have requested the addition of another soundproofed room, but this would come at a cost of around £70,000."

Rachael Cocker, interim chief nurse at the hospital, said the issue had particularly affected screenings being carried out on children, which are held in a room in close proximity to the works.

It comes at a time when the department has seen a 30pc increase in demand for paediatric hearing tests.

However, she added that staff had identified an additional space for these to be carried out, which had minimised the disruption.

The expansion of the Jenny Lind was completed earlier this year, while the orthopaedic centre is due to welcome its first patients next month.

However, with the diagnostics centre still under construction and not due to open until next year, the disruption looks set to continue - although the works are nearing completion.