Work underway on new 48-bed critical care building at Oxfordshire's John Radcliffe Hospital

The £29m building is supported by Department of Health and Social Care financing, and is part of a regional approach for managing critical care demand and activity through both the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as supporting and alleviating future seasonal pressures.

Oxford Hospitals Charity will also be providing their support.

The building will provide specialist and critical care, as well as:

• an improved clinical care environment for both patients and staff;

• increased critical care capacity for the South East;

• alleviating pressure on existing wards;

• reducing pre-operative waits;

• improving infection prevention and control; and

• helping the Trust provide critical care for patients during future seasonal and epidemic pressures.

The first phase of the project is due for completion in the spring, with full completion later in the year. The unit is also part of a longer-term plan to expand and improve facilities at the John Radcliffe.

The building will be adjacent to the trauma building and the OxSTaR Centre. There will be five floors (three clinical, one for storage and plant, and one non-clinical), improved storage facilities, a seminar room, a staff room, and additional office space.

Dr Bruno Holthof, chief executive officer at OUH said "We are incredibly pleased about this new building. Not only will it improve our critical care environment, but it will help us in planning for future demands on our services."

Sam Foster, chief nursing officer at OUH, said "We pride ourselves on the outstanding critical care we give to our most sick patients – and this brand new facility will enable us to improve this even further and provide the best quality of compassionate and excellent care - both now and importantly in the future."

The new critical care building is part of a regional plan to manage critical care as the NHS makes preparations for the ongoing impact of Covid-19.

Dr James Kent, executive lead of the Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, and Berkshire West Integrated Care System (BOB ICS), said: "This is a welcome development at the John Radcliffe Hospital that will also help us work more collaboratively across the system to manage the demands for critical care."

Minister for Health Edward Argar said: "We’re helping the NHS build back better by investing in the future of our hospitals.

"This new critical care building will help John Radcliffe Hospital to continue to deliver world-class care to its patients. The additional surge capacity will enhance their ability to respond to seasonal pressures – something that has proved crucial during this pandemic.

"It’s great news for Oxford and all those served by John Radcliffe Hospital that we’re backing the £29 million new facility as part of our record investment in our NHS buildings, alongside work to deliver 40 new hospitals across the country by 2030, and another example of this Government backing our public services."