With the Great Western Hospital's new emergency department just months away from completion, the public is being asked to help.

The Swindon Hospital's charity, Brighter Futures, has urged locals to 'rally behind' a fundraiser for the upcoming development. 

With around £30 million of Government funding for the development, Brighter Futures is looking to fundraise an extra £1.6 million which will purchase equipment to help create an emergency care environment that supports Swindon’s growing population.

The charity is looking to provide the new emergency department with resuscitation equipment trollies, a mobile x-ray machine, furnishings for two private relatives' rooms and a sky ceiling.

For the children’s emergency department, the charitable appeal will go a long way in furnishing the waiting room and private relatives room, and purchasing a reclining breastfeeding chair for the new baby room and a paediatric ventilator.

Cat Weaver, associate director of fundraising, said: “We saw the people of Swindon and Wiltshire really get behind our first multi-million pound appeal when we raised funds for the Radiotherapy Centre, and we are now calling on our fantastic community to once again show their support for the local NHS.

“Only with these much-needed funds can we provide the extra special level of equipment and care which will help to create a more welcoming, calming and supportive environment for patients arriving to hospital; which is so important during some of the most distressing times in your life.

“We want to encourage local people to support our appeal, by simply making a donation via our website to holding fundraising events or taking on a thrilling activity such as a skydive. We are also asking for local businesses and companies to consider us for any generous donations you might be looking to make.”

To find out more about how you can support the Way Forward Appeal, visit: Fundraising Appeal | Brighter Futures (brighterfuturesgwh.nhs.uk)

Watch the first of a series of WFP Appeal promotional videos here: Majors cubicles in our new Emergency Department (youtube.com)

Dr Liz Barneby, consultant in emergency care, has worked in the current Emergency Department for many years. Liz and the wider team are looking forward to working in the new, modern and 60 per cent bigger department when it opens in the summer.

“Our current majors cubicles are quite small, with not a lot of space,” she said. “It’s very open and noisy, and looking really tired as well – lots of it tacked together after years and years of use. 

“The new Emergency Department will be a much more pleasant experience for patients."