Patients across Oxfordshire are set to benefit from new closer working measures adopted by the NHS.

Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust (OHFT) and Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (OUHFT) have signed up to work more closely together to improve patient care.

Those seeking medical attention, or who are long-term patients at either trust, will now receive an improved level of care.

Older patients are already seeing the benefits, with staff working together to care for more people in their own homes rather than in hospital, where possible, which is known to help patients recover more quickly.  

OHFT’s Dr Nick Broughton and OUHFT’s Dr Bruno Holthof signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Friday, May 27, to formalise an agreement which will also enable more joined-up care.

As well as making patients feel that they are being cared for by one NHS team and providing better value for money.

The closer working will focus initially on urgent care in the home and community to ensure people get access to urgent care and support when they need it, and receive more care at home or in their local community, avoiding unecessary travel and hospital admissions.

Additionally, the scheme will enable the co-ordination of support for people living with long-term conditions including benefiting from innovative care and digital technology.

And finally, it will improve the personalisation and responsiveness of palliative and end-of-life care. 

Dr Broughton said: “This helps strengthen the closer working relationship between our two organisations.

“It is good news for our patients and our staff. It means we’ll be working as ‘one team’, breaking down organisational barriers in order to provide seamless care.”

 

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This story was written by Matthew Norman, he joined the team in 2022 as a Facebook community reporter.

Matthew covers Bicester and focuses on finding stories from diverse communities.

Get in touch with him by emailing: Matthew.norman@newsquest.co.uk

Follow him on Twitter: @OxMailMattN1

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