The Sight and Sound Centre

The Sight and Sound Centre at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) is the UK’s first dedicated facility for children with sight and hearing loss.

It welcomed its first patients on 21 June 2021, thanks to the help of incredible GOSH Charity supporters, including a £10 million pledge from our partner Premier Inn and Restaurants.

Children and young people with hearing and sight loss, like Beth and Iona (pictured below), are the largest group of outpatients to visit GOSH, with around 8,000 patients seen each year. These young patients have complex and rare conditions, and may need to visit multiple specialists from many teams, including Audiology and Ophthalmology.

The centre brings together specialist outpatient facilities for the Audiology and Ophthalmology departments in one dedicated building, with a carefully designed layout that means children don't need to navigate confusing hospital corridors during their visit. It includes state-of-the-art soundproofed booths for hearing tests, an eye imaging suite, a dispensing opticians and other testing facilities.

Children with sight and hearing loss were involved in designing the centre, helping to create a welcoming, comfortable environment that is fully accessible and easy to navigate. Features include a welcoming arrival zone, artworks with sensory elements and the Valentine Sensory Garden, with plants that children can touch and smell (pictured above).

The carefully crafted interior creates a sense of homeliness, helping relax children before, during and after their outpatient appointments. This helps clinical teams carry out sensitive hearing and sight tests more quickly and effectively.