Churchill Hospital day unit nearly doubles cancer treatment

The oncology day treatment unit (DTU) at Churchill Hospital, part of Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (OUH), expanded its Saturday service in July 2025 and has since almost doubled the number of patients treated on weekends.

By moving routine treatments to Saturdays, the unit has reduced waiting times and freed up weekday capacity for more complex care.

Liz Mellish, ward sister on the oncology DTU at OUH, said: “This project has made a real difference for our patients.

“By expanding our Saturday service, we’ve been able to treat more people, reduce waiting times, and give patients quicker access to the care they need.

“It’s been a huge team effort – our nurses, pharmacy colleagues, support workers, and admin staff have all played a part in making this a success.”

To support the expansion, the unit hired additional Systemic Anti-Cancer Therapy (SACT)-trained nurses and support staff.

Patient numbers have risen from 112 Saturday treatments in June 2025 to 253 in June 2026.

The rollout took place in two phases: increasing nursing staff in July 2025 and the introduction of an additional nurse in October 2025, which enabled the opening of a dedicated clinic for subcutaneous treatments.

Felicity Taylor‑Drewe, chief operating officer at OUH, said: “We’re incredibly grateful for all of the hard work that our teams have put into these additional clinics.

“Tackling our cancer waiting times is one of our number one priority. Our teams are working tirelessly and innovatively to reduce any delays and ensure patients receive the care they need.”