How Raymond and the team are working to get people home from hospital

Meet Raymond. He’s the Deputy Matron for the Ambulatory Assessment Unit at the John Radcliffe Hospital, where he leads teams providing rapid assessment and care for patients who don’t need an overnight hospital stay.

Raymond has been at Oxford University Hospitals (OUH) since 2001 after coming to the UK from the Philippines. Over more than two decades at the trust, he has played a key role in shaping how ambulatory care has developed, helping thousands of patients receive timely treatment and return home the same day. 

In 2024 alone, nearly 21,000 patients were treated at OUH’s Ambulatory Assessment Units – there’s one at the John Radcliffe, and another at the Horton General Hospital in Banbury.

Ambulatory care provides same day care to assess, diagnose, and treat patients.

Raymond works closely with nurses, doctors, healthcare assistants, and diagnostic teams to make sure patients are assessed, treated, and reassured as quickly and safely as possible.

Let’s hear from Raymond about his role.

“No two shifts are ever the same in ambulatory care. We see a wide range of patients every day, all with different needs, concerns, and conditions.

“Our job is to assess people quickly and thoroughly so they get the right care without staying in hospital any longer than they need to.”

The Ambulatory Assessment Units are designed to carry out same-day investigations and treatment. Teams regularly perform diagnostic tests including ultrasounds and blood tests, allowing clinicians to make decisions quickly and confidently.

A key part of this is using Point of Care testing, which provides results in minutes rather than hours.

“This has been a real game changer for us,” Raymond explained. “Having results almost immediately means we can make decisions faster, start treatment sooner, and give patients clarity about what’s happening.”

“We are making a difference,” Raymond said. “For every patient treated in our units, that’s potentially one less patient waiting in one of our Emergency Departments. We all know that Emergency Departments should be kept for those who genuinely need them, and they’re often busy, noisy spaces which some patients may struggle with.”

Raymond is also passionate about reducing unnecessary time spent in hospital, which can carry its own risks.

“There are risks to long stays in hospital, such as infections and pressure ulcers,” he said. “The majority of people want to recover surrounded by their home comforts, not on a ward. We have an ageing population who can require frequent medical care – sometimes that will be a genuine hospital admission, but at other times we’re able to mitigate some of these risks with quick and efficient treatment. For example, if someone is with us and we’re able to make sure they’re drinking enough water both in our care and when they go home, we can prevent conditions like urinary tract infections which can be really dangerous for older people.”

Alongside the clinical work, Raymond sees reassurance as a vital part of ambulatory care.

“People often arrive at hospitals feeling uncertain and worried. Being able to explain how we’re going to care for them, carry out any tests quickly, and give them answers can make a huge difference to how they feel, especially when they’re informed about when they can expect to go home.”

For Raymond and his teams, ambulatory care is about delivering safe, efficient and compassionate care in the most appropriate setting.

“We’re focused on doing what’s best for the patient,” he said. "Getting people care closer to home is one of the wider NHS' long-term goals, and we really support that. We are doing all that we can to make it a reality, while respecting our patients' wishes and ensuring everything is carried out as safely and considerately as possible."