Moving forward? Or sad decay?

	Date added: 03 July 2008

High:
11°C
Low:
0°C

Victoria Hospital forgotten as NHS celebrates 60 years

Dead and buried:

Victoria Hospital set to be demolished

The NHS is celebrating its 60th year on Saturday, as one of Swindon's first ever hospitals lies derelict.

Victoria hospital was Swindon's first general hospital and dates from 1887 - the year of Queen Victoria's golden jubilee, hence the name.

A building that played a proud part in a local Swindon health service that inspired the formation of the NHS in 1948 (see link below).

But despite being an essential part of Swindon life for over a century, it is currently in a shocking state - as these photographs show.

Next chapter

The Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership moved to the newly-built Victoria Centre at Great Western Hospital last December, before selling the old Victoria Hospital site two months later.

And SwindonWeb will be taking a look around the new centre in their latest 'NHS in Swindon' feature - click back soon for more information.

What do these pictures make you think?

Have Your Say on this SwindonWeb article

Is the Victoria hospital just a sign of the times - that the NHS is modernising and moving forward?

Or is it sad indication of the slow decay of the NHS? Yet another provision closed due to lack of investment?

Post your comments below.

Victoria Hospital gallery

	Victoria Hospital - 03/07/2008

GOT AN OPINION ON THIS STORY?



We'd like to hear what YOU have to say about this article

All posts will be moderated.
YOUR VIEWS:
"the view of 'pete nurse' is irrelevant. - the piont is we should be preserving victorian buildings as opposed to knocking them down to build more houses. the pictures hit home how little todays society (the government) just does not care and is out solely to get money. yes we needed a new hospital. but this building can be used for many things. so many building in the 60's swindon are ugly and falling down - knock down them NOT english hertitage. mark, melksham." mark - 22/10/2008 09:02:00
"the view of 'pete nurse' is irrelevant. - the piont is we should be preserving victorian buildings as opposed to knocking them down to build more houses. the pictures hit home how little todays society (the government) just does not care and is out solely to get money. yes we needed a new hospital. but this building can be used for many things. so many building in the 60's swindon are ugly and falling down - knock down them NOT english hertitage. mark, melksham." mark - 22/10/2008 08:59:00
"It is a pity that the writer of this feature didn't check their facts. The NHS have replaced this old building with a new and much better centre that caters for the needs of the people of Swindon. The old building had to go because it didn't suit the modern needs of mental health services. Or would you all prefer those with mental health problems to be kept in a rotting hospital?" pete nurse - 04/08/2008 10:22:00
"How awful!" Lee H - 01/08/2008 09:56:00
"Yet another half decent building in Swindon left to decay. Never mind, we've still got the Debenhams building to admire!" Neil M - 04/07/2008 08:36:00
"These pictures give me the creeps... looks like they abandoned the place half way through the day... hope they didn't leave any bodies behind! Nice to see they made good use of the furniture!" Lewis D - 03/07/2008 17:12:00
"Instead of demolishing one of our historical buildings, perhaps SBC could consider knocking down the monstrosity that is the old Swindon College building? Regeneration? Pah!" Melissa C - 03/07/2008 17:12:00
"These images really sadden me - what a waste! Not only is Swindon again not making use of one of the few Victorian buildings still standing, the contents have just been abandoned but it appears that they could still be put to good use!" Jenny W - 03/07/2008 17:07:00
"the titanic poster sums it up" N K - 03/07/2008 17:07:00
"It's just another example of the NHS failing to serve the people who pay for it." Ben L - 03/07/2008 16:52:00

	RELATED CONTENT

Sandalwood Court shame
	Mental health care home criticised AGAIN after mother's suicide...
	30 July 2008

Mental Health in Swindon
	Services heavily criticised in key national report...
	24 July 2008

Bed pans and begging dogs!
	NHS75: From cradle to grave. A look back at Swindon's blueprint for the National Health Service...

	RELATED CATEGORIES

Doctors' Surgeries

Emergency Services

Hospitals in Swindon

Chelworth Windows and Conservatories, Swindon, Wiltshire