Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the Great Western Hospital in Swindon, was upgraded to a Good rating by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), Swindon24 reported on Thursday 23 July 2026. The rating followed a series of inspections over the previous two years covering the trust's Medicine, Surgery and Planned Care, and Family and Specialist Services divisions.
What did inspectors find?
- Teams were friendly and approachable, with a positive learning culture.
- Patients' personal, communication and healthcare needs were being met.
- Families were involved in decisions about care.
Cara Charles-Barks, Chief Executive of the BSW Hospitals Group, said staff were "incredibly proud" of the rating. She pointed to fewer hospital falls and pressure ulcers, more outpatient clinics and the use of digital technology to cut waiting lists.
What about maternity?
Maternity services remain rated Requires Improvement. Ms Charles-Barks said the trust had already acted on the areas the CQC highlighted and "we will continue to work to improve in this area". Planned work includes learning more quickly from family feedback, improving the maternity environment so women can reach staff more easily, and strong leadership for maternity teams.
Recent maternity steps listed in the report include the UNICEF UK Baby Friendly Gold Award, a new Transitional Care Unit for babies born between 35 and 36 weeks, and a programme of neonatal oral antibiotics at home so some families can leave hospital sooner.
Source: Swindon24.