GWH officially open new Emergency Department

A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held to mark the opening of the new Great Western Hospital Emergency Department.

The Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust were joined by members of the local community, staff and partners from health and social care and construction.

The development is the biggest investment to healthcare in Swindon since the hospital first opened.

The new Emergency Department has a 60% bigger footprint with four more majors cubicles, four more resuscitation bays, two relatives rooms and a new patient health and wellbeing space.

Teams have worked with communities including those with dementia, a learning disability or autism, young people, mental health services, wheelchair users and more to ensure that the Emergency Department is inclusive and accessible to all.

Each majors cubicle has individual environmental controls, there are lowered spaces at reception desks for wheelchairs and sky ceilings throughout.

Liam Coleman, Chair of the Trust said: “Our new Emergency Department is a modern, fit-for-purpose building which will enable clinical teams to treat patients in the best possible environment.

“Today wouldn’t have been possible without the incredible support along the way of a number of people and organisations, and I’m looking forward to seeing how our teams can really lead the way in the delivery of urgent and emergency care in this fantastic new space.”