New home for JR's Respiratory team
16/03/2021
This article is more than three years old.
Dr Henry Bettinson, Respiratory Clinical Lead, and Helen Disley, Deputy Matron
Patients with respiratory conditions at Oxford University Hospitals (OUH) are set to benefit from enhanced inpatient care with the opening of a newly refurbished respiratory ward.
Based at the John Radcliffe Hospital, the new Osler Respiratory Unit welcomed its first patients today (Tuesday 16 March 2021).
The Respiratory team has moved several times over the last year as part of the Trust's COVID-19 response, but is now homed in a modern and refurbished area on level five of the Oxford hospital.
Two wards have been completely renovated for this service in order to provide one Respiratory Unit with 24 beds, including 22 side rooms.
Six of the beds are for patients from High Dependency Units (HDU) and two beds for cystic fibrosis patients.
Helen Disley, Deputy Matron, Respiratory and Infectious Disease at the Trust, said: "We have been so excited to move into our new home, as the dedicated ward will enable us to offer specialist treatment in a purpose-built modern environment with better facilities.
"This is a great step forward for the department because it will improve patient care and provide staff with a more suitable base for the long-term future.
"We are proud of the fantastic respiratory care we give to those who need us, and this brand new area will enable us to improve on this and deliver the best quality of compassionate and excellent care in the future."
Sam Foster, Chief Nursing Officer at the Trust, said: "The Respiratory Unit team have delivered outstanding care to our patients throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. They expanded their capacity rapidly and welcomed staff from across our Trust to learn new skills and be part of the response required for our patients.
"This exciting new area has been completely transformed, and it will make a really positive difference to our patients.
"I would like to thank colleagues for their understanding, teamwork, and dedication to ensuring the continuation of excellent patient care during the last year, as well as for their patience while work was carried out."
Staff on the Osler Respiratory Unit, who have adapted quickly and efficiently over the past year due to the pandemic, care for people with various breathing conditions, including asthma, interstitial lung diseases, cystic fibrosis, and bronchiectasis, among many others.
The multidisciplinary Respiratory team is made up of nurses, clinicians, physiotherapists, dietitians, pharmacists, social workers, and Allied Health Professionals.