Patients in Oxford are seeing faster access to care as Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust doubles its surgical capacity during weekend initiatives. On Saturday, 25 April 2026, a specialist team completed nine endocrine surgery procedures in under eight hours at the Churchill Hospital, significantly exceeding the number of operations that would normally take place in the same amount of time.
This effort marks the second time the trust has used these intensive, weekend-focused sessions to help reduce its waiting list. As of the end of 2025, the trust reported 83,723 referrals on its waiting list, which represents a reduction of approximately 3% compared to July 2024. The initiative aims to utilise theatre space that would otherwise sit empty during weekends.
The recent event featured a milestone for the department, with two thyroid day-case procedures performed for the first time in a decade. This move is part of the hospital’s effort to expand treatment options and align with national healthcare recommendations. As one of the largest endocrine units in the country, the trust continues to look for ways to manage complex patient needs more efficiently.
The first of these trial days took place in May 2025, when the hospital completed 12 breast cancer surgeries in about nine hours. Regional data shows that the South East has seen the largest proportional reduction in NHS waiting lists nationally since the pandemic, a trend that local health officials are working to maintain as they strive to meet government targets for treatment wait times.
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