Nearly 800 staff tour new surgical centre at Oxford hospital

The new Surgical Elective Centre (SEC) at John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford is designed to address growing demand for complex routine procedures across Oxfordshire and the wider Thames Valley region.

Located next to the West Wing and Children’s Hospital, the SEC represents one of the most significant projects undertaken by Oxford University Hospitals (OUH) in recent years.

The first phase of the centre will provide seven additional operating theatres, including two dedicated hybrid theatres.

Cheryl Muldoon, operational lead for the SEC at OUH, said: "It was fantastic to welcome just under 800 colleagues to the SEC during the day and give them the opportunity to see this exciting new facility for themselves.

"We’d never done anything like this before and it was really rewarding that so many staff could come and see the SEC before it becomes a restricted clinical space.

"The feedback from our staff was fantastic, which was wonderful to hear."

Hybrid theatres combine advanced medical imaging with a traditional surgical environment, allowing for a full range of procedures - imaging, biopsy, diagnosis, and surgery - to be completed in one space.

This integration is expected to streamline patient care, reduce transfers between departments, and support faster recovery times.

The staff open day provided a first-hand look at the centre and an opportunity to learn about its future role within the trust’s wider surgical services.

Jason Dorsett, chief finance officer at OUH and senior responsible officer for the SEC, said: "The SEC is a major investment in the future of surgical care at OUH.

"The additional theatre capacity and new hybrid theatre technology will help us provide more care for our patients, while giving our staff access to modern, purpose-built facilities.

"Thank you to everyone involved with the open day - it was a real success and I was really pleased that so many of our staff came by to see the SEC."

Phase one of the centre is due to be completed later this year, with the new theatres opening in stages over the coming months.

The SEC forms part of OUH’s ongoing investment in its facilities and services, supporting the trust’s ambition to provide high-quality, safe, and effective care.

It is also expected to help reduce surgical waiting lists and meet the needs of a growing population.

The staff open day was an important opportunity for colleagues to see the development first-hand and understand how the new centre will become part of the trust’s wider surgical services.