INEVITABLY the use of what was intended as office space for an additional 36 beds at Great Western Hospital will provoke cries of "I told you so."

But there is little point now in echoing the complaints of those who claimed right from the start that Swindon's £170 million hospital was going to be too small for the population it would have to serve.

Instead, we must all be thankful that extra money has been made available and the top floor conversion is now underway. We also should not forget that Swindon and Marlborough NHS Trust will soon seek planning permission for a new 27-bed ward in a building adjoining the hospital.

Chief executive Lyn Hill-Tout points out on this page today that the National Plan for the NHS, with its aim for a reduction in waiting times for patients needing treatment, did not exist when the GWH was designed.

With the additional bed space public attention must now focus on our new hospital's performance in reaching those targets.

Its big problem now will be to attract the necessary staff. We should all keep our fingers crossed that it succeeds.