Commandeered 4,000-bed hospital at EXCEL opens in days

A new 4,000bed field hospital to treat patients will be functioning by next week, the Health Secretary has announced.

Matt Hancock confirmed that NHS Nightingale would be set up with the help of military assistance at London’s EXCEL Centre and comprise two wards, each with the capacity for 2,000 beds.

The hospital will initially open with 500 beds equipped with ventilators and oxygen, and will be staffed predominantly by NHS doctors and nurses, as well as military medics.

Military personnel will continue to support NHS England by providing infrastructure, logistics and project management advice.

“With the help of the military and with NHS clinicians, we will make sure that we have the capacity that we need so that everyone can get the support that they need,” Mr Hancock said.

“We are taking exceptional steps to increase NHS capacity so we can treat more patients, fight the virus and save lives.” It is understood the military will also help to convert other sites across the UK at a later date.

Stephen Powis, NHS England’s national medical director, said the temporary hospital was an “extraordinary feat”. “From a standing start a day or two ago, a hospital will be built that will be able to take its first patients at the start of next week,” Mr Powis said yesterday.