A new endoscopy unit has opened in Swindon, offering patients the opportunity to receive care sooner and closer to home.
The new facility, which was built by Vanguard Healthcare Solutions using modern methods of construction (MMC), saw its first patients in late November, with approximately 6,000 more expected to follow over the next 12 months.
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.”
Julian Auckland-Lewis, Programme Director, Great Western Hospitals, commented, “The Department of Health and Social Care is very keen that whenever capital schemes are being pursued, a modular approach is considered for a range of benefits, typically because it can be done faster. And it's also particularly relevant for this scheme, where you're building something in a working environment where you've got other activities and traffic and pedestrian movement in the area. So, if there's a degree of construction activity or manufacturing work that you can conduct away from that site and then bring it in prefabricated, it just means less disruption in the area in which you're placing the building.”
Will Moran, Associate Director of Estates and Facilities, Great Western Hospitals, commented, “Vanguard have been very good, linking with clinical teams, not just estates teams...It's taking that personal touch to work with the local teams to ensure that the service get what they want from it, really. It's not just about providing a space. It's providing a space that people want to work in and have a say in and get what they want from it.”
Vanguard’s UK Business Director, Simon Squirrell, added: “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.”
