On the 75th anniversary of the NHS, the man in charge of Swindon's Great Western Hospital has commented on the past, the present and the future of the health service in Swindon. 

Kevin McNamara has been the chief executive of the Great Western Hospital since March 2020, having acted in this role since June 2019.

He has worked for the NHS since 2003, joined the Trust in 2009, and was appointed as Director of Strategy and Community Services in 2013.

During this time, Kevin has overseen many changes to both Swindon as a town, and the hospital itself and he led the facility through the Covid-19 pandemic.

Commenting on the significant milestone for the National Health Service, and particularly what that means in Swindon, the health boss has issued a lengthy statement

This year marks 75 years of the National Health Service, and working for the NHS in Swindon is particularly fitting given that an inspiration for the service began locally with the Great Western Railway Fund.

“In 1873, the Great Western Railway Medical Fund Hospital opened as one of the first places in the country to have hospital care available for all workers, and all these years later we continue to deliver quality healthcare across the acute hospital and our community services to over one million patient contacts every year.

“Over the years, Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has developed to continue to meet the growing population we serve and we’ve led the way on some exciting projects; including being one of the first places in the world to offer the Covid-19 vaccine, being first in the country to fit a specialist pacemaker and recently purchasing a new surgical robot.

“All of this, and much more besides, is helping to ensure we see and treat every patient and make sure local people have access to the right care, in the right place. It also establishes us as a supporter of the wider community, including our relatives, carers and partners.

“We continue to develop to keep up with the times, with our year-old Urgent Treatment Centre thriving and construction currently underway for an expanded and refurbished Emergency Department. We’ve also bought land near the hospital which means that as Swindon and the surrounding areas continue to grow, so can we.

“Of course, none of this would be possible without the 5,500 dedicated staff and volunteers who work tirelessly every day to provide our services – many of whom have worked for the NHS for up to 50 years. My thanks goes to everyone who works at the Trust, and to the local community who continue to support us.”