Coronavirus - Private Ramsay centre in Banbury is turned over to NHS use during Covid-19 crisis

The treatment centre, which performs a range of treatments from hip replacements to cataracts and plastic surgery, has done a deal with the Government to allow the OUH use of its facilities which are in a separate, leased NHS building on the Horton site.

Treatment centre director Paul Byrne said: "I can confirm we have suspended normal elective surgery at the Horton Treatment Centre for the duration of the COVID-19 emergency.

"As part of a major deal with NHS England, Ramsay Health Care UK will provide additional emergency capacity to the NHS from all our hospitals. This will include the provision of urgent acute, trauma, medical and cancer cases. We are currently working with our local NHS Trust to determine how we can best support them during this crisis.

"We are a 40 bedded facility with three (operating) theatres, diagnostics (MRI, x-ray and ultrasound), outpatients and physiotherapy unit with gym."

A spokesman for the OUH said: "The Trust will be making a number of operational changes on a temporary basis to effectively manage all patients, both those who need treatment for COVID-19 and patients who need other urgent treatment."

She said the OUH is working with Ramsay on the best use of the treatment centre's capacity during the COVID-19 emergency.

The OUH has, from this week, moved dialysis from the special ward at the Horton to a facility at the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre, Oxford on a temporary basis.

The normal patient transport arrangements stand for patients and although they are travelling further, they will be reimbursed for their travel if it is by private car. The patient transport service has good capacity for those who need it.

The spokesman said: “This move was made for patient safety reasons and all patients were spoken to prior to the move. We are very grateful for the understanding of our patients.”

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