BAA Statement in response to DHSC Paediatric Audiology Review Announcement

The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care has commissioned an independent review into children’s hearing services to be chaired by Dr Camilla Kingdon, a consultant neonatologist and former President of the Royal College of Paediatricians and Child Health. The Terms of Reference will be published on 14th April.

The review will:

• Assess NHS England’s response to service failures in children’s hearing services
• Consider how governance arrangements between NHS England and the Department of Health and Social Care could be improved
• Identify lessons learned for handling future service failures in similar services
• The review will report its findings to the Secretary of State.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting said:

“When I was first briefed on the state of paediatric audiology services shortly after becoming Health Secretary, I was genuinely shocked. The scale of what has happened to many young children and their families isn’t just a failure of services – it is a profound breach of trust.

“These failures are typical of the NHS we inherited – neglected community healthcare, critical shortages of clinical specialists, and perhaps most concerningly a culture that buried problems rather than confronting them head-on.

“The consequences for too many of these children are devastating and lifelong. Early diagnosis of hearing issues is vital – the first few years are a crucial window for speech and language development that, once missed, cannot be fully recovered. And yet years passed without sufficient action being taken by senior leadership in either central government or NHS England. That is unforgiveable.

“On my watch, I’m determined that nothing of this kind is allowed to happen again. That’s why I’ve commissioned this independent review – to provide families with the answers they deserve, to identify clear lessons and ensure history does not repeat itself.

“I’m delighted to appoint Dr Camilla Kingdon as the lead for this important review, bringing a wealth of experience and unwavering commitment to improving care for children and families.”

The British Academy of Audiology welcomes Health Secretary Wes Streeting’s announcement of a review into paediatric audiology services. While we acknowledge that significant work has been carried out to address concerns, we remain disappointed at the length of time it has taken to bring this level of scrutiny and coordination to the issue.

Much of the progress has relied on small groups of highly committed subject matter experts working tirelessly across several regions in addition to their full-time roles in paediatric audiology. In many cases, these efforts have been carried out under immense pressure, with stretched services doing their utmost to balance urgent caseloads, staffing challenges, and complex recall programmes—all while trying to ensure no child is left behind.

We are particularly concerned about inconsistencies in how support and improvement work is implemented across different areas. Mixed messaging across system leadership—from calls for mutual aid to restrictions on recruitment to intense scrutiny over diagnostic targets—creates confusion and hinders meaningful progress.

In some instances, there appears to be a tendency to focus on assigning blame rather than building long-term, sustainable solutions. This approach risks demoralising staff and missing the opportunity to embed real improvements.

Claire Benton, President of the British Academy of Audiology, said, “Our colleagues across audiology services are deeply affected by these issues, both professionally and personally. Many feel personally responsible for every child that has been missed across the country and are at a breaking point in trying to support their departments and other services. Audiologists, parents and the children affected need a clear, realistic, and well-supported roadmap to improvement — one that takes into account the complexity of the task, the sheer volume of data being analysed, and the need for national alignment across all levels of leadership.”

• The review was announced in an article by Sunday Times Health Editor, Shaun Lintern published today (April 13th). You can read Lintern’s article on The Sunday Times website, or download the pdf here: Sunday Times April 2025

Download the BAA press release here: BAA Press Release – DHSC Paediatric Audiology Review Announcement