AS the Great Western Hospital, in Swindon, inches closer to completion, the staff accommodation building has just been topped off.

Sonia Mills, the chief executive of Swindon and Marlborough NHS Trust, laid the final slate on Downsview House the home for 143 future members of staff and their families.

Ms Mills said: "I'm really delighted to be here and see the state-of- the-art facilities that will be a major improvement on standards at the Princess Margaret."

She is confident that the high standard of accommodation will help the drive to recruit and retain more staff.

"The trust will be subsidising rents to make them competitive with surrounding hospitals," she added.

The new home for doctors, nurses and therapists is being built by Unite. The £3.5 million development has been designed to provide a better living environment for hospital employees.

Dave Willmott, the project manager of Unite, said: "We're delighted to be associated with the NHS in this sort of scheme."

The modern accommodation comprises single and family rooms, complete with en suite and cooking facilities.

It also boasts a laundry room, common room and on-call suites.

The rooms will be fully furnished by the end of September and staff are due to move in at the beginning of October.

Chris Birdsall, the spokesman for the Princess Margaret Hospital, said: "This special accommodation aims to provide a comfortable home for key workers.

"This new hospital is a prestigious project and we are looking forward to having it in Wiltshire."

The £138 million hospital, built by Carillion, is on schedule and due to be completed on November 5.