Enter and view: Surgical Emergency Unit at John Radcliffe Hospital

Healthwatch Oxfordshire visited the SEU at the John Radcliffe Hospital in February 2024 as part of a series of visits to services within Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (OUH). 

Healthwatch Oxfordshire spoke to 11 patients and seven staff members during their visit.

Key findings

• The SEU is a busy, well-led department.
• Patients had praise for the SEU staff and valued the care and support they received.
• There is clear directional signage from the main entrance to the SEU.
• The SEU was clean and tidy despite the space constraints of the unit.
• The unit has a comprehensive range of information, well presented in all wards.
• A suggestion box is available for patients and family members, and there is information on how to give feedback, comment and complaints. 
• The corridors are used for storage of equipment in some areas but overall, the unit was well organised and streamlined.
• The space on the unit, although tight, was efficiently organised across all the wards.

Recommendations

• Feedback from some patients indicated that pain management could be improved – for both those waiting and post operation. 
• If feasible, the unit may consider reorganising the waiting room to optimise space and create a more comfortable environment.
• Explore further patient feedback on choice and menu options.
• Older patients may need more support in accessing food. 
• Revisit to find an effective way to communicate family member’s dietary restrictions to visitors.
• Address patient concerns about the toilet seat in the waiting area. 
• A streamlined approach to decluttering the unit and corridors could help in providing more space.

OUH responded to the report saying the findings have been reviewed by their Chief Nursing Officer, Yvonne Christley and discussed with the leads in the area with an action plan drawn up to address the recommendations made, including timescales for each activity. 

Some actions, for example repairs to the toilet seat and the creation of a new storeroom to store equipment to help declutter the unit, have already been completed.