(Back L to R – Laura Laver, Alan Tidy, Dawn Assaf. Front L to R – Dawn McCafferty, Rachael Hilton, Julia Cherrill)
SWITA and Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust are delighted to announce the opening of the new Swindon Ultrasound Spoke.
The SWITA team attended the official opening of the new facility on 6 October 2026. Led by Practice Educator Dawn McCafferty, the Swindon Ultrasound Spoke expands access to high-quality ultrasound education and training across the South West.
(Dawn McCafferty)
The new facility will support trainee sonographers and radiology resident doctors from across the region, providing one-to-one support, hands-on training and focused learning opportunities in ultrasound. It will play an important role in developing the diagnostic imaging workforce and supporting trainees as they build their skills and confidence in clinical practice.
(L to R, Rachael Hilton, Laura Laver)
Sonography remains one of the biggest workforce challenges facing diagnostic services, both locally and nationally. If we are going to meet the needs of our patients in the future, we need to invest not only in equipment and facilities, but in developing the next generation of our workforce.
This training is much more than an additional space. It is an investment in education, workforce development and collaboration in the South West. It gives us the opportunity to train more sonographers locally, support our existing staff and ultimately improve access to diagnostics for our patients.”Alan Tidy, Deputy Divisional Director, Division of Medicine, Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
The Swindon Ultrasound Spoke also contributes to the national drive to grow and strengthen the imaging workforce. By providing innovative and accessible approaches to education and training, the facility will help meet the increasing demand for ultrasound services and address ongoing workforce shortages across the region.
It has been a pleasure to work collaboratively with Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (GWH) in establishing the Ultrasound Spoke. The inclusion of GWH brings the total number of ultrasound hubs and spokes across the South West to five, further strengthening regional capacity for the education and training of sonographers and radiology resident doctors.
This development represents an important milestone in enhancing access to dedicated training facilities, enabling trainees to develop their confidence, competence and clinical expertise within a supportive learning environment. The expansion of the hub and spoke model plays a vital role in supporting workforce development, helping to ensure a sustainable and highly skilled diagnostic imaging workforce capable of meeting current and future healthcare demands.”Rachael Hilton, SWITA Co-Clinical Director
