Swindon Celebrates 75 Years of the NHS: GWR MEDICAL FUND EXHIBITION

There are a whole number of ways you can help us to explore local health and welfare developments to celebrate 75 years of the NHS. Displays, photos, guided tours, live talks, videos, oral histories and more... was Swindon a birthplace of the NHS?

11:00-15:00 - Central Community Centre open and free to explore

Browse a range of exhibitions curated by historians and heritage experts across Swindon. We have collected all of the resources we can find to help you piece together the impact that the GWR Medical Fund in Swindon, had on the formation of the NHS.

11:00-15:00 - Railway Village Museum open and free to explore

Step back in time at Swindon’s Railway Village Museum, 34 Faringdon Road, and find out how Victorian railway workers lived.

Schedule of Events:

11:30 - 12:30 - Guided Railway Village health tour lead by Mary Thornton

Location: Railway Village Museum - Limited tickets available. Donations Welcome. Book your space by contacting [email protected].

12:30 - 13:30 - Opportunity Out of Crisis: A talk with John Stooke, Maggie Brunger and Gerry Hannon

Location: Bakers Cafe - Limited spaces available. FREE - Suggested Donation £2 is welcome. Book your space by contacting [email protected].

13:30 - 14:30 - Guided Railway Village health tour lead by Mary Thornton

Location: Railway Village Museum - Limited tickets available. FREE - Suggested Donation £2 is welcome. Book your space by contacting [email protected].

15:00 - 16:00 - Opportunity Out of Crisis: A talk with John Stooke, Maggie Brunger and Gerry Hannon

Location: Bakers Cafe - Limited spaces available. FREE - Suggested Donation £2 is welcome. Book your space by contacting [email protected].

Location: Central Community Centre - Limited tickets available. 50p for members | £2 for non-members.

Swindon is a birthplace of the NHS

Swindon was one of the first places in the UK to have hospital care open to all workers, at what was formally known as the Great Western Railway Medical Fund Hospital, which started in 1873. Local people called it Great Western Hospital for short.

Swindon was one of the first places to have hospital care run by workers themselves and paid for by contributions from workers from payroll deduction, via the Great Western Railway Medical Fund friendly society, which ran the hospital and other health services. This model was later used for National Insurance, when the modern NHS was set up in 1948.

Swindon was one of the first places to cover workers' families, and also covered unemployed people, even if they could not afford to pay contributions.

Nye Bevan is said to have been inspired by the complete health service he saw run by the GWR Medical Fund in Swindon.

In 1946, a distinguished doctor who was a pre-eminent public servant stated that Swindon was

“the only current example of an attempt to provide a comprehensive health service”.

Great Western Hospital was transferred to the NHS in 1948.

In 2002, a new hospital began treating the people of Swindon... The Great Western Hospital (as we locals call it).

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Central Community Centre, Emlyn Square, SN1 5BP

Railway Village Museum, 34 Faringdon Road, SN1 5BJ

Bakers Arms, 16 Emlyn Square, SN1 5BN

It is a very short walk between all Town Centre Locations, with strong transport links by Car, Bus or Rail.

The nearest Car Park is Bristol Street Car Park: https://www.swindon.gov.uk/directory_record/23325/bristol_street_car_park

You can plan your journey by bus: https://www.swindonbus.co.uk/

The Central Community Centre has a very small car park which will be closed off to the general public, except for locking up bicycles.

Research by:

- Swindon Society

- Friends of Health Hydro

- Railway Village Museum

- Mechanics' Institution Trust

- Wiltshire Family History Society

- Local Studies

- STEAM Museum

...and a number of history enthusiasts and experts from within our heritage community.

Thank you for all of your support.

Get in touch for more [email protected]

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Central Community Centre, Emlyn Square, Swindon, United Kingdom