OUH accredited to treat high consequence infectious diseases

Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (OUH) has been formally accredited to manage Airborne High Consequence Infectious Diseases (HCID) following enhancements to infectious disease facilities at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford.

These secure areas are designed to provide safe, high-quality care for both adult and child patients with confirmed HCIDs. 

The development forms part of a national network of designated NHS centres equipped with the appropriate infrastructure, specialist equipment, and highly trained staff to effectively respond to these serious and often life-threatening infections.

HCIDs are defined by the UK Health Security Agency as acute infectious diseases that can have a high case-fatality rate, may lack effective prophylaxis or treatment, and are often difficult to detect and diagnose quickly. These diseases also pose a risk of transmission within communities and healthcare settings, requiring an enhanced response to protect patients, staff, and the wider public.

The new HCID service has been designed to meet stringent national standards for infection prevention and control. It includes dedicated areas for isolation and treatment, and provides the highest levels of safety for patients and healthcare workers alike.

OUH staff have received enhanced training in recognising and responding to HCIDs. This includes raising awareness of key signs and symptoms at the ‘front doors’ of hospitals, such as Emergency Departments, to ensure early identification and prompt isolation of potential cases.

Professor Katie Jeffery, Director of Infection Prevention and Control at OUH, said: “We are proud to be part of the national HCID network. This accreditation reflects the significant work undertaken to ensure we have the right people, processes, and infrastructure in place to care safely and effectively for patients with these complex conditions. The facility will play a key role in protecting public health, both locally and nationally – we learned a significant amount during the COVID-19 pandemic, and plan to incorporate this knowledge and learning in any steps we take going forward in terms of treating similar illnesses.”

Professor Andrew Brent, Chief Medical Officer at OUH, said: “National designation as an Airborne HCID Centre reflects the expertise and experience of our clinical teams in safely managing complex infectious diseases. It also provides additional resources to support staffing and training to ensure we keep both our teams and our patients safe.  My thanks go to the many teams involved in developing and supporting this service.”

Pictured: Infectious Diseases team participating in Sim training at OxStar - this allows staff to practice technical and communication skills in PPE.