The new Oxford Haemophilia and Thrombosis Centre (OHTC) had its official opening this week – with patients, Martin Beard and Sandy Jeffery, cutting the red ribbon.

This is one of the largest comprehensive Haemophilia and Thrombosis care centres in the UK, responsible for 8,000 patients a year with bleeding and clotting disorders.

The centre was previously located at the Churchill Hospital and has now moved into a former ward at the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre (NOC).

The space was re-designed and completely refurbished by our NHS Trust with additional funding of £25,000 also provided by Oxford Hospitals Charity. This is being used to purchase new rehabilitation gym equipment for patients and to make the outdoor space more welcoming and attractive for patients and staff.

The Centre, which has fifty members of staff, is dedicated to providing specialist care to patients locally, regionally, and in some cases nationally, including adults, children and their families diagnosed with Haemophilia A, Haemophilia B, acquired haemophilia and other rare forms of inherited clotting disorders.

The new centre includes treatment rooms, offices, the David Keeling laboratories, staff rooms and a patient gym.

Dr Susie Shapiro, Head of Department for the Oxford Haemophilia and Thrombosis Centre said: ‘We are delighted to have successfully moved to our new location at the Nuffield Orthopaedic Hospital.

‘Our new Centre provides improved clinic and treatment facilities for our patients including an on-site patient gym to help with rehabilitation following bleeds and surgery and keeps our specialist haemostasis laboratory and staff offices altogether.’

Douglas Graham, Chief Executive Officer at Oxford Hospitals Charity, said: ‘It’s been such a pleasure to visit this new centre and see these first hand these wonderful new facilities. The additional rehab equipment funded by the charity will make a huge difference to many patients, and the outdoor area will provide much needed space for patients and staff to be able to relax. We are delighted to be able to support such an important initiative. ’

Professor Meghana Pandit, Chief Executive Officer at OUH said: ‘I am pleased that the new, modernised OHTC is now officially welcoming patients, and our staff are excited to be working in this new environment where they will benefit from new areas to work and relax. We are committed to improving patient experience across OUH, and the relocation of the OHTC will help us deliver compassionate and high-quality care to patients with bleeding and clotting disorders.’

Sandy Jeffery, patient at OHTC, said: ‘Over the years I have been supported and treated through many medical crises.  The OHTC consultants and staff have created an amazing centre that we can access and receive help and support from with any medical problems that we may have.

‘The new OHTC is much bigger, brighter and has, more importantly, so many more facilities. It is an amazingly well organised and designed Centre for us patients to be treated in.’