A new hospital emergency department in Swindon has treated more than 2,000 patients since it opened.

The £33.5 million expansion of the urgent and emergency care area at Great Western Hospital officially opened in July but could not admit patients due to a few minor issues.

Construction began in February 2023 and staff moved the first patients into the department at 8am on Wednesday, September 18.

The 1,492sq m expansion is the largest ever investment into the GWH site using £26.3 million of government funding and £7.2 million from the hospital trust and it is 60 per cent larger than the previous A&E, helping to tackle increasing demand.

Read More: Abandoned house is a 'bombsite leaking raw sewage'

All ambulances arriving at Great Western Hospital now hand their patients over to the new department and walk-in patients are triaged via the Urgent Treatment Centre.

There are four more ‘major cubicles’ offering a total of 16 private beds for patients, which are fitted with glass doors instead of curtains and dimmable lighting, to improve patient experience.

Additionally, the new Emergency Department includes three extra resuscitation cubicles to bring a total of seven, as well as a resus bay for children.

There is also a secluded room for patients experiencing a mental health crisis, with an observation area and two relatives rooms away from the main department.

The BBC reports that over 2,000 have been treated in these spaces since doors opened. 

Read More: Man arrested on suspicion of drug driving after four car crash

The hospital team recommends that people should only go to the hospital for serious or life-threatening conditions and they should call NHS 111 in the first instance or seek help from their GP or pharmacist.

A GWH Trust spokesperson said: “Thank you to our teams and partners who have worked extremely hard to support the opening of such a significant milestone for the organisation.”

Ahead of the official opening, Consultant Dr Liz Barneby told the Adver that the new Emergency Department will allow staff to be more efficient as the space is more spread out and the windows allow for more daylight to enter the building, which makes it a more comfortable environment for both staff and patients.

She said: "We're all a bit crowded in the old Emergency Department so it’s nice to spread that out and this will allow staff to be more efficient. The old space was quite cramped and dark, so it will be transformational to move into this space.”

Help support trusted local news

Sign up for a digital subscription now: https://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/subscribe/

As a digital subscriber, you will get:            

  • Unlimited access to the Swindon Advertiser website        
  • Advert-light access             
  • Reader rewards             
  • Full access to our app