4,000-bed hospital to open in London as military steps in
A MASSIVE temporary hospital holding 4,000 beds was being prepared last night at London’s ExCel exhibition centre – and could be ready “within days”.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock confirmed last night that the NHS Nightingale Hospital would open with two wards each accommodating 2,000 beds.
The four-acre exhibition hall is due to open next week with an initial capacity of 500 beds.
Mr Hancock said: “With the help of the military and NHS clinicians we will make sure we have the capacity we need so everyone can get the support they need.”
New field hospitals are also being planned for all UK regions amid fears critical-care units will be overwhelmed by patients.
Around 2,000 military personnel in the Covid Support Force are on 24-hours notice to help communities plagued by the disease, sources revealed yesterday.
This is expected to increase to 15,000 troops on 48-hours’ notice as defence chiefs admit they are in a “race against time to close capability gaps”.
Support
A senior Ministry of Defence source said: “We will support each region in the UK and each nation to make sure what we see in London is replicated or similar.
“London is up to two weeks ahead of the rest of the UK.”
An NHS source said the field hospital “will be staffed by military medics but it’s still unclear where the nurses will come from”.
Some 50 military personnel are already delivering protection equipment to NHS staff.
This will increase to more than 460 over the coming weeks.
More than 50,000 face masks were delivered to St Thomas’ Hospital in Westminster yesterday morning. More deliveries to other hospitals are planned this week.
Soldiers from 101 Logistic Brigade drove overnight from an Army depot in Haydock, Merseyside, to boost supplies.
Personnel will deliver items to almost 250 NHS locations, including hospitals, GP surgeries, and ambulance stations.
Meanwhile, troops could “backfill” police counter-terrorism roles, become temporary prison guards or check passports and customs alongside Border Force personnel. Brigadier Phil
Prosser, Commander 101 Logistics Brigade, who oversaw the delivery to St Thomas’ Hospital, yesterday, said: “This is more than just delivering masks – this is a demonstration that the British Army is standing side by side with the NHS.”
And minister for the Armed Forces James Heappey MP said: “At this difficult time we must all come together to protect the most vulnerable in our society.”