BOSSES at Great Western Hospital are confident that no operation will have to be cancelled once a £30m treatment centre opens in April.

As reported in later editions of the Adver, the flagship hospital was handed the keys to the Brunel NHS Treatment Centre yesterday.

Developers Carillion Services, which also built the flagship hospital in 2002, are now applying finishing touches.

Around 5,500 patients will be treated there every year helping to ease pressure on stretched wards in the main hospital.

The building, which is sited next to the A&E department, has 128 beds, five operating theatres and three wards.

It will be used for non-emergency surgery, such as hip replacements and cataract surgery.

In the past wards normally reserved for such treatment have been used for emergency operations during busy periods.

But Trevor Payne, director of estates and facilities, told the Evening Advertiser that Swindon residents could look forward to stress-free operations.

"This will have huge advantages for the whole of GWH," he said. "This should be the end of cancelled operations."

Nick Westbrook, spokesman for GWH Public and Patient Involvement Forum, welcomed the news. He said: "From a patient's point of view this is excellent news. It will enable people to receive elective surgery without putting pressure on the acute beds in the main hospital."

Although extra parking will be made available, Mr Westbrook said he still has concerns over access to the new centre.

"Some issues still need to be addressed, not least the issue of car parking at GWH," he said.

"Larger numbers of staff and patients will be using the site."

Before Christmas junior health minister Rosie Winterton visited GWH to see for herself improvements that are being made.

She praised the work and said Swindon could be proud of its hospital.

Neil Sutherland, facilities manager, for Carillion Services, echoed those comments. He said: "This is a high quality building and we have brought the very latest in hospital engineering to this project.

"We expect a smooth transition to Swindon and Marlborough NHS Trust.

"Originally we expected the first patients to walk through the door in the summer so we are four months ahead of schedule."

Carillion Services has pumped £24m into the centre while the Government has pledged the remainder.

GWH bosses have signed a 25-year re-payment agreement similar to a mortgage.

During this time, any maintenance will remain the responsibility of the developers.

Kevin Shoesmith