THOUSANDS of extra patients could be sent to Oxford’s John Radcliffe Hospital under plans to turn it into a centre of excellence for strokes and major trauma.

The JR could see a doubling of workload for some departments as patients are sent from across the region to Oxford.

The Government wants patients to be treated by specialist staff concentrated in a smaller number of hospitals around the country.

It claims the move will save lives, improve patient recovery and reduce the likelihood of patients suffering long-term disabilities.

It has launched a consultation and has asked members of the public for their views on the changes over the next six weeks.

Under the proposals, the JR would provide all emergency and elective vascular surgery for patients in Berkshire and Oxfordshire.

Patients who suffer aneurysms, strokes or poor blood supply to feet and legs can need vascular surgery. And patients who suffer major trauma, such as serious head injuries, gunshot wounds or road traffic accidents, in Berkshire, Buckinghamshire or Oxfordshire will be taken directly to the major trauma centre at the JR, rather than their local A&E.

The JR is already a stroke specialist centre for Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire.

Last night, Professor Ted Baker, medical director at the Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals NHS Trust (orh), said the proposals recognised the importance of the JR as a provider of specialist care.

He said: “In the case of stroke services, the ORH was recognised in January by the Care Quality Commission as being among the best providers in England, and the trust already provides comprehensive stroke services to a wide population.

“The proposals being made will not change the existing arrangements but will formalise them.”

The hospital sees 650 stroke patients, and the mini-stroke, or TIA service, assesses about 1,200 patients, per year.

Prof Baker admitted the proposals for trauma services would mean a significant increase in the 430 patients currently coming to Oxford each year. And he said changes would double workload for the vascular service, which sees 8,400 outpatients and 1,500 in patients, each year.

He added: “Most non-urgent vascular patients would be seen in their local vascular clinic as they are now and inpatient procedures would mostly take place in Oxford.

“This means a doubling of our workload in Oxford, but it means that we can maintain a larger specialist team of surgeons, anaesthetists, radiologists and nurses to ensure high standards are maintained for all our patients.”

NHS Oxfordshire, which merged with Buckinghamshire Primary Care Trust earlier this year, said along with the other primary care trusts in the region, it was carrying out engagement work on all three services at the same time because they were connected.

A spokesman added: “This may mean some patients will travel further than their local hospital to be treated but, in the majority of cases, treatment will be significantly improved and could save lives.”

The consultation runs until September 30. To have your say see http://bit.ly/safeandsustainable.

  • Gladys Hudson’s husband, Roy, was treated at the John Radcliffe after suffering a stroke.

He passed away in 2009.

Mrs Hudson, of Carterton, said: “The care was excellent.

“We couldn’t have had nice kinder, nurses. They became really great friends to us and treated him with absolute dignity. I welcome this news.”