Structure of Swindon’s new community endoscopy unit lifted into place

Progress on building a new endoscopy unit in Swindon has taken an enormous leap forward in the last few weeks, after giant cranes hoisted the state-of-the-art structure into place.

The new unit, which will sit alongside the town’s community diagnostic centre in West Swindon, is due to open later in the year and will be able to care for up to 6,000 patients annually.

Having a dedicated endoscopy unit in the community means more patients will be able to receive diagnostic care that was once only available in large hospitals, such as the Great Western, sooner and closer to home.

Mathew Johnson, Endoscopy Manager, Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said:

“This new unit will make a real difference, as we’ll be able to see thousands more patients each year, and help reduce the time they wait for vital investigations. This is a big step forward, not just for improving patient care, but also speeding up early diagnoses.”

The new unit will carry out a range of planned gastroscopy and colonoscopy procedures, and will complement the many other services already being delivered at the West Swindon Health Centre, such as CT and MRI scans.

Dr Amanda Webb, Chief Medical Officer, Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire Integrated Care Board, said:

“We are on a journey to make local health and care truly accessible for all, and by having more diagnostic services based outside of hospital and closer to people’s homes, we will be able to cut waiting times, see more patients and, most importantly, ensure people can stay healthier for longer.

“This is an exciting time for the NHS in our region, with many of the changes that have been spoken about for some time now firmly taking shape, and we are looking forward to seeing the tangible impact these initiatives have on the lives of local people.”

The new endoscopy unit will be managed by clinical teams from the Great Western Hospital in Swindon. 

As of April 2025, more than 60,000 patients have received a test or investigation, such as a CT scan, X-ray or endoscopy procedure, at one of the community diagnostic centres established in the region over the last two years, including the Sulis Hospital in Bath, the West Swindon Health Centre and Salisbury Central Health Clinic.

For more information, visit Community Diagnostic Centres - Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire ICB