Outpatients back in Trauma Building at JR Hospital

Following an extensive refurbishment project, trauma outpatients have now returned to the Trauma Building at the John Radcliffe Hospital.

Trauma inpatients moved out of the building following a review by the Fire Service in 2017.

Over the past few months, there has been a rigorous programme of fire safety works that is now complete and the building can be brought back into full clinical use.

Outpatients, who were temporarily relocated to the main John Radcliffe building during work in 2021, have now returned to the Trauma Building. We are currently working with the Trauma service to plan the inpatient move. 

The most significant factor for returning inpatients to the upper floors has been the joining of the Trauma Building with the new Critical Care Building. This means that, in the event of a fire, patients can be moved away in their beds into the Critical Care Building.

The Trauma Building will have a total of 48 beds, patient gym, offices, and stores.

Sam Foster, Chief Nursing Officer for Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: "We're incredibly pleased to have taken this significant step in bringing our Trauma Building back into use.

"It will mean an improved experience for our patients, and our staff will be able to care for them in a purpose-built environment. Also, the trauma staff are looking forward to working all together in one location again as they will be able to confer more easily and rebuild the tight teamwork and support that they have worked hard to sustain while they were in two locations.

"This, paired with the adjacent new Critical Care Building, allows us to provide the best compassionate care for our patients in the right place, at the right time."

The Critical Care Building is due to open to High Dependency and Intensive Care patients in early 2022.