Summary of the service
Ketamine is a licensed anaesthetic drug. It can also work as an antidepressant but has not been licensed for this use. A closely related version, nasal esketamine, does have a licence but has not been approved for routine NHS use, mainly because of cost.
We provide a self-pay, ketamine treatment service for people who have depression which has not responded to other treatments. It is based at the Warneford Hospital, Oxford, OX3 7JX.
Before offering you an assessment we assess your suitability for treatment by reviewing a referral letter from your GP or psychiatrist and other required documents.
If we can offer you an assessment, you will complete several questionnaires before the assessment meeting.
Assessment meetings are usually online, but we can meet face-to-face if you prefer.
Initial treatment consists of three to six ketamine infusions over three to six weeks. We recommend that you join two preparatory group sessions before treatment and an integration group after each treatment. These are optional.
About 50% respond well and want to continue treatment. The majority relapse at some point but then respond again with further treatment. As with conventional antidepressants, regular treatment over several years is often needed.
About 10% have an unpleasant experience with their first infusion. For the remainder it is pleasant or neutral.
For information about NHS treatment, click here.
To see our feedback from a recent survey, see our FAQ: Why should I come to Oxford rather than elsewhere?
Overview
Non-urgent advice: Referrals
Your psychiatrist or GP should send the required documents, preferably by email to: KetamineClinic@oxfordhealth.nhs.uk
or by post to:
Referrals
Ketamine Clinic
Warneford Hospital
Headington
Oxford
OX3 7JX
We provide this service at the lowest cost possible. All of the income from the self-pay service described on this site is used to fund NHS care within Warneford Hospital and other NHS sites across Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Wiltshire, Swindon, Bath and North East Somerset where Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust operates.
Non-urgent advice: Downloadable information
This PDF contains all the text on the website, used for consent.
Page last reviewed: 30 January, 2023