The upgrade, which started earlier this year at the hospital’s Emergency Multi-disciplinary Unit (EMU), has now been completed.
The improvements have modernised the unit, which provides rapid assessment, diagnosis, and treatment as an alternative to acute hospital admission.
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This helps to reduce pressure on the busy A&E department at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford.
The community hospital in Marcham Road offers various services, including rehabilitation and palliative care.
It also supports patients with a minor injuries unit, an Oxfordshire Stroke Rehabilitation Unit, and a range of outpatient services such as rheumatology, cardiology, and paediatric orthopaedics.
The hospital is staffed by a team of nurses, occupational therapists, and physiotherapists and is supported by a team specialising in care for the elderly.
Abingdon North county councillor Nathan Ley visited the hospital with Emma Leaver, chief operating officer at Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust.
He said: “The Emergency Multidisciplinary Unit has just had a £1.1m refurbishment through NHS England. It’s the bit of the hospital a lot of people don’t know about – you can’t walk in, you’re referred by your GP, a community team or the ambulance service, and the point is to get you assessed and treated the same day so you don’t end up admitted overnight at the JR.
“The work has improved access and clinical space, plus a new air flow system, roof repairs and a better canopy for getting patients across to X-ray. The team kept the unit running throughout the refurb from a temporary ward, which is no small thing
“I also got round the rest of the site, which does far more than most people realise. The Oxfordshire Stroke Rehabilitation Unit is based here, as is podiatry, alongside the minor injuries unit, X-ray and the wards, and much more besides.”
Abingdon Community Hospital (Image: Google Maps)
Commenting on the successful completion of the project, Oxford Health’s director for partnerships and neighbourhood healthcare, Sue Butt said: “This refurbished unit is a fantastic example of how investment in local NHS services can directly improve the experience of patients and carers.
“By creating a more modern, accessible and spacious environment, we can assess and treat more people closer to home and help avoid unnecessary hospital admissions.
“I’m so proud of our staff, who continued to provide excellent care while the refurbishment was taking place. Thanks to their dedication and the support of our partners, we now have a facility that will serve the community for many years to come.”
Sarah Goldsack, director of Performance for NHS England South East, said: “Refurbishing Abingdon’s emergency multidisciplinary unit is a fantastic example of how investment in modern, high-quality facilities is helping us deliver better care for patients closer to home.
“This upgraded unit will mean a more comfortable environment, faster assessments and a smoother experience for people who need urgent same day care – all without the disruption of an unnecessary hospital admission.
“Across the South East we are investing in improvements just like this, strengthening community-based services and ensuring staff have the right spaces and equipment to provide safe, timely care.
“The transformation at Abingdon shows what this investment can achieve: a modern, welcoming unit that supports patients, carers and staff, and helps keep people well in their own community.”