Enter and View: Blue Outpatients Department at the John Radcliffe Hospital

Healthwatch Oxfordshire made an Enter and View visit to the Blue Outpatients Department at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford in July 2025. This visit was part of a programme of visits to a range of services within Oxfordshire. 

During this visit Healthwatch Oxfordshire spoke to twelve patients and nine members of staff.

Key findings

• Clear signage directed patients to the Blue Area Outpatients from the main hospital reception, and a welcome sign was displayed at the entrance to the area.
• Opening hours were clearly displayed alongside a range of useful information. However, there were no translated materials or leaflets in other languages, and no information about how to access interpreting services.
• There were no staff photographs on display, and the Care Quality Commission (CQC) report was not visible.
• The Blue Area Outpatients department does not have a hearing loop in place.
• A suggestion box and information on how to give feedback were available, but the hospital website does not include information about the Blue Area Outpatients department.
• The department was very clean throughout, with furniture in good condition.
• The manager and team members were welcoming, greeting patients with warmth and friendliness.
• Patients consistently expressed appreciation for the staff’s care, support, and input. However, some patients were unaware of the formal processes for providing feedback, leaving comments, or making complaints.
• Parking difficulties at the John Radcliffe Hospital remain a significant challenge for both patients and staff, with several patients reporting difficulty finding a space.
• Staff reported feeling well supported in their career development and professional training, but also highlighted ongoing staff shortages and a lack of staff rooms.

Recommendations

In its report, Healthwatch Oxfordshire made the following recommendations for improvements to Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (OUH), which runs the hospital:

• OUH should provide more comprehensive information about the unit and its services on its website.
• Translated materials should be provided to ensure that all patients, regardless of their primary language, have access to important information.
• Information should also be provided about how people can access the interpreting service.
• Hearing loops should be implemented in the unit to improve accessibility for patients with hearing impairments.
• OUH should continue to focus on addressing parking and transport issues to help alleviate patient and staff concerns and to ensure that there are sufficient, accessible spaces available for everyone who needs to visit the hospital.
• Real-time waiting times should be clearly displayed on screens within the waiting area.
• Increasing staffing levels and investing in proper rest room would also improve staff wellbeing and morale.
• The Care Quality Commission report should be displayed as per the Health and Social Care Act 2028 regulations.

Healthwatch Oxfordshire sent its report and recommendations to OUH and its Head of Patient Experience replied with a detailed response and action plan setting out how it intends to make the improvements that had been suggested.