This Urgent Care update provides an overview of key achievements across the system in Oxfordshire and looks ahead at what we’re planning to do in this coming year. Thank you for your continued efforts in delivering improved care and outcomes for people across Oxfordshire. We will continue to keep you updated via this webpage. 

Achievement Highlights

Developing Neighbourhood teams, Bicester and Oxford City
The development of neighbourhood teams in Bicester and Oxford City is showing a positive impact on frailty, and is resulting in a collaborative approach to supporting people to remain in their own home. We will continue to work across North, South, and City of Oxford in the further development of integrated neighbourhood teams.

A key highlight has been the ongoing development of the neighbourhood team in Bicester and Oxford City to include Age UK Oxfordshire, care coordinators, consistent GP cover five days a week, and integrated working with community nursing teams to deliver the following:

  • Support following discharge from acute care
  • Assessment and support of those with on the day demand
  • Complete comprehensive geriatric assessments.

Call before Convey

Call before Convey is a collaborative effort with South Central Ambulance Service (SCAS), Urgent Community Response, and Oxfordshire Hospital @ Home teams.
In May 2022, we introduced a new approach with SCAS for all people who called 999 following a fall at home. Patients were offered time to discuss their situation with Urgent Community Response or a consultant Gerontologist before being conveyed to an Emergency Department (ED). This work contributed to a 12% reduction in falls and a reduction in emergency admission for people 75yrs and older. These patients were safely assessed and treated in their own home by Urgent Community Response teams and Hospital @ Home teams.

Transfer of Care Hub (ToC Hub)

The ToC Hub is a multidisciplinary team for the Oxfordshire health and care system which regularly meets each day to review patients who have been referred for discharge. The Hub brings together representatives from all relevant staff involved in discharge services - acute, community, social care, and voluntary sectors. It leads on timely, holistic, and safe decision-making so people leaving a hospital setting are on the right pathway for them. We have seen an increase in the number of people returning with support to their own home. 

Oxfordshire Urgent Care Centres

Throughout 2022 and 2023, two Urgent Care Centres (UCCs) have been developed in Oxfordshire, one at the Horton General Hospital (HGH) in February 2022, run by Principle Medical Limited (PML), and the second has been developed on the John Radcliffe Hospital (JR) site run by Oxford City PCN.

Both UCCs predominately take on-the-day referrals from Primary Care as well as redirections from the HGH and JR Emergency Departments. Throughout the winter period, the HGH UCC ran the respiratory hub for adults and children and a clinical advisory service for NHS 111 referrals to Primary Care. The impact on the HGH ED has been considerable and has resulted in more time to treat those who benefit from an assessment within an Emergency Department, and reduced overcrowding in the evening and at weekends.

Forward View 2023/24

Our forward view and planning for the year ahead is underpinned by the national priorities below:

  • People to access the right care the first time
  • Expanding community services
  • Urgent Mental Health support within NHS 111
  • Patients seen more quickly in Emergency Departments
  • Increase capacity to meet continued growth in demand
  • Increase the number of discharges from hospitals

Our focus is:

  • People accessing care at the right time in the community will be a key focus to support the day demand in Primary Care and the further development of integrated neighbourhood teams
  • Expanding the Transfer of Care Hub and understanding the workstreams behind this that will make a difference to reducing the number of days Oxfordshire residents are away from home
  • Child and adult mental health support.

If you have any comments or questions, please get in touch with Lily.OConnor@ouh.nhs.uk