Successful move of two trauma inpatient wards

On Friday 4 August 2017 all trauma inpatients were successfully moved from wards 2A and 3A in the Trauma Unit building to two new wards in the main John Radcliffe Hospital building.

Since the Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust received a report by fire safety experts Trenton Fire, and made the decision to move the inpatient beds in the Trauma Unit to two wards in the John Radcliffe Hospital, staff from across the Trust and from many partner organisations have been working hard to make this happen.

Paul Brennan, Director of Clinical Services said: "I want to give huge thanks to all the staff from the Trust and to our other local partners who have helped us make today's move possible and achieved so smoothly. I would also like to thank our patients for bearing with us while we made this move, and I hope they are now settling into their new wards.

"The Major Trauma Centre at the John Radcliffe Hospital has remained open to patients throughout this process, and I'm proud of the excellent service offered to patients by our fantastic staff."

Clinical and support staff from Trauma and General Medicine have worked exhaustively to plan the move and carry it out successfully.

Estates staff from the Trust have moved equipment, refurbished two ward areas, painted and made other changes as required to bring the new wards into use.

Carillion portering and cleaning staff have moved patients, equipment and deep-cleaned the new wards in preparation for their new patients.

Trust Information Technology staff have ensured that important patient information systems have been available at both ends of the journey and installed additional equipment where necessary.

Operational managers have overseen the whole process and ensured that the hospital continues to run. All of this has been done in seven days.

In order to accommodate the additional beds within the main John Radcliffe Hospital we have been working with social service staff from Oxfordshire County Council and the team from Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust who run the community hospitals as well as other surrounding District General Hospitals.

Together, we have enabled many patients who are ready to leave hospital to go onto the next stage of their care, whether that is home with a care package, onto a community hospital or nursing home or to return nearer to home in their local district general hospital.

During the course of Friday we have operated four wards - staff have had to be available on both the old and new wards to look after patients, and in addition, we have had nurses and other clinical staff accompanying patients as they have been transferred.

The Trust is very grateful to all the clinical staff from OUH, particularly our Trauma and General Medicine nurses, doctors and therapists and other ward staff who have put in so many extra hours over the last week to make this happen.

In addition, we have gratefully received help from nurses, doctors and paramedics from Oxfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group, Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust and South Central Ambulance Trust who have all sent us additional support to help manage the move today.

Background

The decision to move patients was not taken lightly and is because of a combination of fire safety issues in the Trauma Centre, not just the cladding, making it currently unsuitable for inpatients.

The move will allow us to carry out a number of recommended improvements in the Trauma Unit identified by Trenton's report, including replacing the cladding.

The report, which followed an initial assessment by the Trust's own Estates team, is supported by Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service. The Trust is grateful to Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service for their support in maintaining our fire safety while we have planned and carried out this move, as well are our own fire safety officers who have provided 24/7 cover within the Trauma Unit over the last week.

Although the fire safety report deemed that the Trauma Unit was not suitable for inpatients, the ground floor outpatient clinic area can remain open for patient use during this period. The upper floors will continue to be used as office and storage space.