Oxford University Hospitals has almost doubled the number of cancer patients treated on Saturdays at the Churchill Hospital, cutting routine waiting times from six weeks to four weeks. The trust marked one year of the expanded Oncology Day Treatment Unit service this July, with patient numbers rising from 112 in June 2025 to 253 in June 2026, according to Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
Chief Operating Officer Felicity Taylor-Drewe said tackling cancer waiting times remained the trust’s number one priority. The extra Saturday sessions have freed weekday capacity for more complex cases and new patients who need medical cover. Ward Sister Liz Mellish said the project had made a real difference, giving patients quicker access to the care they need and highlighting the team effort from nurses, pharmacy colleagues, support workers, and admin staff.
The expansion began in July 2025 to ease pressure on weekday clinics that were struggling to accommodate new patients. Additional funding allowed the unit to recruit more specialist nurses, pharmacy staff, support workers, and administrative staff. Saturday nursing levels rose from four to six in July 2025, and an extra nurse joined in October to run a dedicated clinic for subcutaneous treatments. A licence change also meant the drug nivolumab could be given by injection instead of intravenously, cutting treatment time to minutes.
The trust said the combination of extra staff and the new injection method let it safely increase capacity while improving patient flow.
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