Bernstein legacy boosts hearing services in North Norfolk

The Sagle Bernstein legacy has led to the opening at Cromer & District Hospital of brand new £83,000 state-of-the-art facilities for local patients with hearing problems.

Sagle Bernstein generously left the hospital £11.4 million and £1 million has already been spent on equipment and facilities at Cromer. A total of £10.4 million is currently yet to be spent pending a decision on the plans for a new hospital in Cromer.

Thanks to the Bernstein Legacy, the hospital now has three purpose-built Audiology rooms for hearing aid patients and two good quality audiometric test facilities. The improvements mean North Norfolk patients can now be seen in an environment equal to the high standard provided at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital.

The new facilities also mean that Audiology services in North Norfolk can be expanded, seeing more patients locally, and reducing the need to travel to the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital.

The Audiology service at Cromer & District Hospital has steadily grown from four clinics a week to nine clinics a week. With the opening of the new department it is hoped to provide a further four clinics a week with immediate effect.

Head of Audiology, Dr John Fitzgerald said: “We are indebted to the late Mrs Bernstein's generosity. We now have modern facilties that will not only offer patients an improved service but also offer a service to more North Norfolk patients.”

Media contact: Andrew Stronach on 01603 287200.