ALL non-urgent surgery at hospitals in Oxfordshire has been cancelled to relieve pressure on the NHS.

Bosses at Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (OUH) - which is responsible for the John Radcliffe, Churchill, Nuffield, and Horton – said that staff are looking after double the number of coronavirus patients than they were in the first lockdown in March.

According to Public Health data, there are currently 284 patients at OUH hospitals with coronavirus.

Of those, 35 are on ventilation.

In an update online, they explained: “The number of Covid-19 positive patients requiring treatment in our hospitals in Oxford and Banbury has increased significantly in recent weeks.

“Our staff are currently caring for twice the number of Covid-19 positive patients than at the peak of the first wave of coronavirus in Spring 2020.

“This has led to pressures on beds on our wards and in intensive care, operating theatres, and staffing levels.

“We are redeploying some staff to work in areas where Covid-19 positive patients are being treated and working closely with our partners in the Oxford health and care system, and further afield.”

They said to do this they would be focussing on ‘urgent and emergency care’ for both Covid and non-Covid patients and urgent cancer care.

  • OUH are postponing all routine inpatient and day elective surgery at all hospital sites
  • Patients will be told when their appointments have been rescheduled
  • Urgent surgery, including cancer patients, will still go-ahead
  • Outpatient clinics are continuing in Oxford, Banbury, and the community but at a reduced capacity
  • Some clinics will be postponed or cancelled
  • Urgent referrals and two-week wait cancer referrals will be seen
  • GPs will still refer patients to hospital as normal

Sara Randall, Chief Operating Officer at Oxford University Hospitals, says: "These measures are necessary so that our staff can prioritise the care of the sickest patients and maintain safe patient care during this unprecedented time for the NHS both locally and nationally.

"We appreciate how frustrating this will be for patients affected and we would like to apologise to them. We know that many people waiting for treatment will be disappointed or worried, and we are contacting everyone affected.

"We have not taken this decision lightly and would like to reassure our patients that we are taking all necessary steps to try to keep any disruption to an absolute minimum.

"We would like to thank our communities for your support and understanding at this hugely challenging time."

Sam Foster, Chief Nursing Officer at Oxford University Hospitals, says: "Please help us to help you by following the lockdown rules in order to protect your local NHS, choose the right healthcare service for your needs, and help us to support your loved ones when they're ready for discharge from hospital."