Mogelijk levensreddende zorg dichter bij huis gebracht voor duizenden mensen in Swindon

A brand-new, state-of-the-art endoscopy unit in the heart of Swindon’s community has officially opened its doors, offering thousands of patients the opportunity to receive potentially life-saving care sooner and closer to home.

Having the state-of-the-art endoscopy unit based in the community not only relieves pressure on Swindon’s already very busy Great Western Hospital, but ensures people waiting for important investigations can get the care they need in a more timely manner, and in a setting that is closer to their home or place of work.

The new unit demonstrates how the local NHS is continuing to deliver on the commitments outlined in the government’s recently-published 10-Year Health Plan, which stressed the need for more services, particularly those that were previously only available in hospital, to be brought into the heart of people’s communities.

Dr Barry Coakley, Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire Integrated Care Board, said: “When a patient receives the news that their symptoms could be the early warning signs of something serious, it can be extremely distressing, and can leave both them and their family feeling worried, unsettled and anxious for answers.

“The new endoscopy unit in Swindon, along with the other community diagnostic centres in our region, is helping to reduce this anxiety, as tests and investigations can now begin sooner than before, meaning serious conditions can be ruled out at a much earlier stage.

“And, for the times when a patient’s results do indicate that actions need to be taken, treatment is able to begin quicker, which we know can lead to improved rates of recovery and, most importantly, people having more time with their friends and loved ones.”

The new endoscopy unit will be managed on a day-to-day basis by clinical teams from the Great Western Hospital.

Dr Ajeya Shetty, Endoscopy Lead, Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: “I'm proud that this new addition will significantly expand our capacity to deliver timely, high-quality endoscopic care.

“By moving services closer to patients, we can shorten waiting times, support earlier diagnosis and improve outcomes across our community.”

Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust partnered with Vanguard Healthcare Solutions who built the new community diagnostic hub using modern methods of construction.

Vanguard’s UK Business Director, Simon Squirrell, said: “By having more services that were once only available in larger hospitals, based in the community, people will be able to access care and, in many cases, receive important diagnoses more quickly. We are delighted to be supporting our colleagues in the NHS to deliver even more excellent patient care and essential procedures.”

Read a case-study with a floorplan and more pictures, and watch a video walk-through of the facility and interviews with Trust staff, hier.