New day room opens on Saturn Ward at Great Western Hospital

On Monday 25 May 2026, Swindon24 reported that Saturn Ward at Great Western Hospital in Swindon had a new day room, created from a former storage room.

The room was redesigned with older patients in mind. It has dining tables and soft seating, so patients can eat or see relatives away from their bedside and outside the ward bay, in a quieter and more private setting.

Who paid for it?

The work was funded entirely by community donations to Brighter Futures. Brighter Futures pays for projects outside standard NHS budgets, for patients, families and staff across Swindon and the surrounding area.

Why does it matter?

Staff said that getting patients out of bed and socialising can help reduce deconditioning, the loss of strength and fitness that can affect older people during longer hospital stays. The Trust described the project as part of wider work on wellbeing and person-centred care.

Ward manager Nicola Lennon, who oversaw the project, said: "This space allows our patients to step away from their bed space".

Catherine Weaver, associate director of charitable funds at Brighter Futures, said donations from the local community make a real difference to patient care, and that better spaces can improve wellbeing, dignity and recovery.

Source: Swindon24.

More from Swindo: Great Western Hospital.