New home for OUH service to improve patient experience

Patients who need tests for lung cancer and other conditions are set to benefit from the relocation of the Respiratory Early Diagnostic Service (REDS) at OUH.

Formerly located in the Churchill Hospital, the service has now moved to Oxford Community Diagnostic Centre in Cowley Business Park.

By relocating the service to the Diagnostic Centre, patients who are referred to the team with suspected lung cancer can get their scan, bloods, and lung function carried out in one appointment. This means early diagnosis can happen quickly - and if cancer treatment is required, early diagnosis is a vital part of successful and effective treatment.

The service is made up of a multidisciplinary team, including consultants, nurse navigators, and navigator administrators. 

Dr John Park, Consultant in Respiratory Medicine at OUH, said: "This is a really beneficial move for our patients, and our staff too. The Community Diagnostic Centre is purpose-built for the tests we need to carry out to quickly diagnose or rule out lung cancer.

"Because we're often able to carry out all of the initial tests on the same day, we can get a quicker diagnosis - this means our patients have to wait less during a stressful time, with the aim of speeding up the time to starting treatment."

Dr Anny Sykes, Interim Chief Medical Officer and respiratory consultant at OUH, said: "The REDS team do a fantastic job, and being able to do it in purpose-built surroundings is a real bonus.

"The location of the Community Diagnostic Centre can make things easier for patients, too, removing some of the stress around traffic and parking near our hospitals, which can make a real difference to their overall experience.

"In addition to facilitating a quicker diagnosis, this also aligns with the overarching long-term plan for the NHS, including treatment closer to home and reducing the number of hospital visits."