Banbury and Oxford hospital chiefs preparing for 'inevitable' third wave of Covid-19 in new year

Hospital bosses trying to plan capacity at the Horton in Banbury and the JR hospital in Oxford are preparing for pressures of a third wave of coronavirus early next year.
Prof Sir Jonathan Montgomery, chairman of the Oxford University Hospitals NHS TrustProf Sir Jonathan Montgomery, chairman of the Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust
Prof Sir Jonathan Montgomery, chairman of the Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust

Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust (OUH) chairman, Prof Sir Jonathan Montgomery, and chief executive officer, Dr Bruno Holthof, made it clear to the Horton Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee yesterday (Friday) that the county's hospitals will be under particular pressure in early 2021 - and a third wave of Covid 'inevitable'.

Committee chairman Cllr Arash Fatemian was pressing the hospital chiefs for a meeting in February to test how much progress has been made on development of the Horton site into a 'hospital for the 21st century' with tens of thousands of extra outpatient and elective appointments being brought to the Banbury hospital.

This had been promised by the OUH and Oxfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group (OCCG) in 2017 when the final decision was taken to confirm permanent downgrading of the full maternity service in Banbury.

Dr Bruno Holthof, CEO of the Oxford University Hospitals NHS TrustDr Bruno Holthof, CEO of the Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust
Dr Bruno Holthof, CEO of the Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust

Campaigners, led by the Keep the Horton General campaign (KTHG) had fought unsuccessfully the High Court against the closure of 45 medical beds, the obstetric service, special baby care unit and downgrade of intensive care at the Horton.

According to the OCCG, the redevelopment of the Horton would transform it into a modern hospital offering an extra 60,000 - 90,000 extra appointments a year.

Mr Fatemian called for a meeting between the hospital trust and OCCG, the HHOSC and KTHG in February to allow local stakeholder involvement in developing the plans without any further delay.

"I think early February, which gives two and a bit months, is not an unreasonable time," he said.

However that month was ruled out by the OUH bosses because of the expectation of a third wave of coronavirus.

Sir Jonathan voiced 'slight nervousness about a third wave' at that time of the new year. "I would rather have a date that is realistic than disappointment," he said.

Mr Holthof said: "We're in the midst of a second wave and preparing for the third wave, which inevitably will come after Christmas around the timeframe that you're saying."

Mr Fatemian agreed to delay 'a short while' but said he would want a meeting to take place in the first quarter of the year, acknowledging that any further postponement could mean the opportunity for winning one of the few remaining Government capital spending grants for the 'vision' masterplan could be lost.

* A third wave of coronavirus could put hospitals under extreme pressure, coming at the same time as the expected 'winter pressures' of the flu and respiratory illness season. It would coincide also with the planned Covid-19 mass-vaccination programme.

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