Bradford Royal Infirmary has renamed the Listening for Life Centre after pioneering ear surgeon Professor Chris Raine MBE, who has restored hearing for hundreds across the North of England.
Honouring a lifetime of dedication
A pioneering surgeon who has transformed the lives of hundreds of people with hearing loss across the North of England has been recognised with a lasting tribute.
The Listening for Life Centre at Bradford Royal Infirmary (BRI) has been renamed the Chris Raine Listening for Life Centre, in honour of Professor Chris Raine MBE, Consultant Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) Surgeon at Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
Professor Raine, a leading figure in cochlear implant surgery, founded the Yorkshire Auditory Implant Service (YAIS) based at BRI. The centre, opened in 2009 by the Duke of Gloucester, provides comprehensive assessments and lifelong support for patients with cochlear implants, attracting people from as far as Manchester, Hull, Carlisle and the Isle of Man.
A pioneer in cochlear implant surgery
Professor Raine performed his first cochlear implant in 1990, becoming one of the UK’s early pioneers in the field. Cochlear implants are medical devices that bypass damaged parts of the inner ear to directly stimulate the auditory nerve, allowing people with profound deafness to hear sound and speech.
In 2015, he made medical history by performing the UK’s first cochlear implant under local anaesthetic on a pregnant patient — enabling her to hear her unborn baby’s heartbeat for the first time.
Since then, more than 1,300 people have received over 2,000 cochlear implants at BRI. Professor Raine himself has performed over 1,000 procedures, treating patients from six months to 93 years old.
A legacy of compassion and innovation
Fellow Consultant ENT Surgeon Mr Dave Strachan described the renaming as “an incredible and truly appropriate honour” for a man who “brought the gift of hearing to hundreds.”
He added:
“When there was no government funding available, Chris founded The Ear Trust charity to ensure his patients could still receive implants. His determination made sure no one in Bradford missed out on life-changing surgery.”
Miss Helen Tan, ENT Surgeon and colleague, praised Professor Raine’s vision:
“He set up the Yorkshire Cochlear Implant Service with a small team and helped build the Listening for Life Centre through fundraising. That team of three has grown into a large, thriving service recognised nationally and internationally.”
The Ear Trust continues to support the work today, recently funding a new cone beam scanner for the hospital.
Recognition from across the Trust
Professor Mel Pickup, Chief Executive of Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said:
“Thank you, Professor Raine, for all that you have done for your patients and our Trust over the last four decades. You should be proud of your efforts and the work you have done to pioneer and build an amazing cochlear implant service here.”
The new sign at the Chris Raine Listening for Life Centre was donated by Robertson Construction Yorkshire and East Midlands, which is currently building the hospital’s new £25 million endoscopy unit.
Professor Raine, who received an MBE in 2015 for services to the NHS and The Ear Trust, continues to see patients weekly and plans to retire in 2026.
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