Her Majesty the Queen opens new emergency care development

The Great Western Hospital’s new urgent and emergency care development was given a royal seal of approval in January following a visit from Her Majesty the Queen.

Hospital staff, along with children from nearby schools, welcomed Queen Camilla to Swindon on Tuesday 21 January, when she officially opened the site’s newly expanded urgent and emergency care areas.

First opened to the public in the autumn of 2024, the £33.5 million development has been largest ever investment on the GWH site, and follows the opening of the hospital’s new radiotherapy centre in 2022.

With a 60 per cent bigger footprint, the new Emergency Department, Children’s Emergency Unit and Medical Assessment Unit, will ensure unplanned healthcare provision is fit for the increasing demand and growing population of the town.

Liam Coleman, Chairman, Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We are thrilled that Her Majesty The Queen visited us here in Swindon, to mark such a significant moment in our history.

“It took over five years of hard work to bring our new urgent and emergency care development to life, and I want to thank everyone who has helped us create a new department that will benefit the people of Swindon and Wiltshire for years to come.

“Thank you also to Her Majesty the Queen for taking the time to unveil a plaque and meet with so many of our fantastic staff and patients, and to the children of Badbury Park Primary School.”

More information about the visit, along with details of the new urgent and emergency care facilities, can be found online at www.gwh.nhs.uk.