Old Meets New: Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre In Oxford Opens New ВЈ42m Hospital - Extends 140 Year History Of Excellence Into 21st Century Care, UK

World-class specialist orthopaedic hospital, the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre in Oxford, yesterday welcomed the Rt Hon David Cameron, MP on a private visit as it opened the doors of its ВЈ42m new hospital to patients and the public.


The new hospital - a private finance initiative - replaces virtually all of the NOC's older buildings, some of which date back 50 years or more. Newly installed, state-of-the-art technology and services are set to further the NOC's reputation as a world-leading centre of orthopaedic medicine and research.


Jan Fowler, Acting Chief Executive of the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre NHS Trust, said: "The opening of the new NOC hospital will support our staff in providing an even higher standard of care in a hospital which is already regarded as world-class. The standard of medical care we can now provide is exceptional. With these advances, patients can expect to enjoy the very best in orthopaedic healthcare - whether they come from Oxfordshire, elsewhere in the UK or overseas."


Highlights of the new hospital, designed by architects RTKL, include:>


-- The world's first room-sized 360 degree MRI scanner - which is particularly important for claustrophic patients unable to use standard 'tunnel' scanners


-- New facilities for the NOC's Bone Infection Unit: Europe's only dedicated unit of its kind


-- Dedicated paediatric wing - for the first time, the NOC will offer its younger patients their own specially designed facilities including a gym, schoolroom, and living accommodation for parents/carers of longer term patients


-- A new dedicated day surgery ward which will double capacity to ten beds - decreasing day surgery waiting times and, with its own separate entrance, reducing infection risks for patients


-- Easy-to-clean design throughout to maintain the NOC's achievement of some of the lowest MRSA/ Clostriduim infection rates in the country


-- Three new digital x-ray machines
The new building is now fully operational and is located on the NOC's existing site in Headington, Oxford.


About the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre


The Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre (NOC) is based in the City of Oxford and is one of the world's leading orthopaedic hospitals. It provides specialist services to patients from across the UK and world-wide, and also provides routine and specialist orthopaedic and rheumatological services, primarily to the people of Oxfordshire.


The NOC has maintained a distinguished medical and nursing tradition since its beginning in 1872, with a top class reputation for clinical excellence and patient care. The NOC's team of dedicated staff and consultants work together to put the care and needs of its patients first. It is both a teaching hospital trust - providing a large number of placements and fellowships for trainee surgeons and other doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals in training - and a major research centre which houses many of the leading academics and researchers in the field of musculo-skeletal disorders.


For more information, visit:
noc.nhs.uk.


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