COVID-19 hospitals in the United Kingdom
{{Short description|Temporary COVID-19 critical care hospitals}}
{{Use British English|date=March 2020}}{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2020}}
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| United Kingdom
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{{TopicTOC-Covid19UK}}
{{Update|hospital status|date=September 2024}}
COVID-19 hospitals in the United Kingdom were temporary hospitals set up in the United Kingdom and overseas territories as part of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
They principally included the seven NHS England Nightingale Hospitals, NHS Scotland's Louisa Jordan hospital, NHS Wales' Dragon's Heart Hospital, and the Northern Irish Health and Social Care site at Belfast City Hospital, as well as the Florence Nightingale temporary hospital in the Europa Point Sports Complex, Gibraltar.
Background
As the COVID-19 pandemic first took hold in the United Kingdom, its government and the public health services of the home nations started planning the creation of temporary large-scale critical care hospitals to provide cover for the projected increase in patients likely to require this type of treatment.{{cite web|url=https://www.nursingtimes.net/news/coronavirus/more-temporary-hospitals-announced-ready-for-coronavirus-peak-30-03-2020/|title=More temporary hospitals announced ready for coronavirus peak|last=Gilroy|first=Rebecca|date=30 March 2020|website=Nursing Times|language=en |access-date=31 March 2020|quote=More NHS temporary hospitals are to be opened across England, Wales and Scotland to cope with the coronavirus outbreak.}}{{cite web|url=https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/03/look-inside-london-nightingale-temporary-hospitals-coronavirus/|title=Take a look inside NHS Nightingale, London's new coronavirus hospital|last=Broom|first=Douglas|date=31 March 2020|website=World Economic Forum|language=en |access-date=31 March 2020|quote=The UK is creating five new hospitals to cope with the coronavirus pandemic. [...] The temporary hospitals will be in London, Birmingham, Cardiff, Glasgow and Manchester.}}{{cite web|url=https://inews.co.uk/news/health/coronavirus-nhs-field-hospitals-excel-london-scotland-manchester-2519820|title=NHS field coronavirus hospitals 'being considered' in Scotland and Manchester|last=Gallagher|first=Paul|date=26 March 2020|website=inews.co.uk|language=en |access-date=31 March 2020|quote=Several more emergency NHS field hospitals could be set up across the UK [...]}}{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/coronavirus-latest-hospital-east-london-nightingale-glasgow-birmingham-military-covid-19-a9429356.html|title=Coronavirus: Plans continue for more 'field hospitals' in events spaces across UK|last=Wood|first=Vincent|date=27 March 2020|website=The Independent|language=en |access-date=31 March 2020}} It reflected wider NHS re-structuring to prepare for the COVID-19 pandemic and anticipated strain on NHS services {{Cite journal|last1=Rimmer|first1=MP|last2=Al Wattar|first2=BH|author3=UKARCOG Members|date=2020-05-27|title=Provision of obstetrics and gynaecology services during the COVID-19 pandemic: a survey of junior doctors in the UK National Health Service|journal=BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology|volume=127|issue=9|pages=1471–0528.16313|doi=10.1111/1471-0528.16313|pmid=32460422|pmc=7283977|doi-access=free|issn=1470-0328}}
The initiative was carried out in coordination with the British Armed Forces' COVID Support Force, under the Military Aid to the Civil Authorities provisions,{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/guidance/covid-support-force-the-mods-contribution-to-the-coronavirus-response|title=COVID Support Force: the MOD's contribution to the coronavirus response|website=GOV.UK|language=en |access-date=31 March 2020|quote=The expansion of the NHS Nightingale project to other parts of the country is an absolute necessity at this time. The UK Armed Forces will do whatever is required to support the Scottish Government and the Health Services across the United Kingdom during this crisis, and bring this vital capability to wherever it is needed in our combined effort against coronavirus.}} as part of Operation Rescript.{{cite web|url=https://www.nam.ac.uk/explore/civil-assistance|title=In case of emergency: The Army and civil assistance {{!}} National Army Museum|website=www.nam.ac.uk |access-date=31 March 2020}}
The field hospitals were intended to be used treat critical care patients regarded as being less severely ill, while the most severely ill patients would be treated in mainstream NHS hospitals.{{Cite news |last1=Campbell |first1=Denis |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/30/nightingale-hospital-in-london-to-treat-less-critical-covid-19-cases |title=Nightingale hospital in London 'to treat less critical Covid-19 cases' |date=30 March 2020 |work=The Guardian |access-date=4 April 2020 |last2=Marsh |first2=Sarah |last3=Carrell |first3=Severin}}
In the early part of 2020, the hospitals saw relatively few Covid patients, and as case number dropped over the summer they were either mothballed or re-purposed.{{Citation needed|date= October 2020}}
On 12 October 2020, amidst a rise in cases in Northern England, the hospitals in Harrogate, Manchester, and Washington were placed on standby in readiness to admit patients with COVID-19.{{Cite news|last=Sparrow|first=Andrew|date=2020-10-12|title=UK coronavirus live: Nightingale hospitals in Manchester, Sunderland and Harrogate on standby to take patients|language=en-GB|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2020/oct/12/uk-coronavirus-news-boris-johnson-local-covid-restrictions-three-tier|access-date=2020-10-12|issn=0261-3077}}
Very few patients were treated in the Nightingale hospitals, largely due to difficulty finding the necessary additional qualified staff.{{cite web |title=How close were hospitals to collapse in Covid? |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c78dl0xv7y2o |website=www.bbc.com |access-date=28 October 2024 |date=28 October 2024}}
NHS England
{{Location map many
| England
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| caption = Locations of NHS Nightingale Hospitals
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| label6 = Harrogate
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| label8 = Exeter
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{{Update section|date=May 2022|reason=all of the Nightingale Hospitals have since been closed}}
The NHS Nightingale Hospitals were seven critical care temporary hospitals established by NHS England as part of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic in England. The hospitals were named after Florence Nightingale, who came to prominence for nursing soldiers during the Crimean War and is regarded as the founder of modern nursing.{{cite news|date=3 April 2020|title=Coronavirus: Nightingale Hospital opens at London's ExCel centre|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-52150598}}
The NHS Nightingale Hospital London opened first on 3 April 2020. {{As of|2020|5|5}}, six of the seven planned hospitals had opened, and by the following month all had been placed on standby. The Harrogate and Exeter hospitals were repurposed as diagnostic clinics in June and July respectively.{{cn|date=October 2022}}
In the event, almost all of the increased demand for critical care was met by expanding capacity in existing hospitals. By June, all the temporary hospitals had been placed on standby. Only two had admitted patients: 54 were treated at NHS Nightingale Hospital London (all of them in April){{Cite web|last=Sherling|first=Adrian|date=5 May 2020|title=Matt Hancock insists it's fantastic the Nightingale Hospital has been put on stand-by|url=https://www.lbc.co.uk/radio/presenters/nick-ferrari/matt-hancock-nightingale-hospital-coronavirus/|access-date=2020-06-25|website=LBC|language=en}} and just over 100 at Manchester.{{Cite web|last=Dunhill|first=Lawrence|date=29 June 2020|title=Exclusive: Mass expansion of rehab beds for covid planned|url=https://www.hsj.co.uk/coronavirus/exclusive-mass-expansion-of-rehab-beds-for-covid-planned/7027934.article|access-date=2020-06-30|website=Health Service Journal|language=en}}
The Tesco supermarket chain planned pop-up branches of its convenience stores in the NHS Nightingale hospitals to provide shopping facilities for hospital staff. It opened the first one in Birmingham Nightingale on 13 April.{{Cite web|title=Tesco opens 24-hour store at Birmingham's new NHS Nightingale Hospital|url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/whats-on/shopping/tesco-opens-24-hour-store-18116308|last=Rodger|first=James|date=20 April 2020|website=Birmingham Mail|access-date=1 May 2020}}{{cite news |url=https://www.retailgazette.co.uk/blog/2020/04/tesco-eyes-pop-up-stores-at-nhs-nightingale-sites/ |title=Tesco eyes pop-up stores at NHS Nightingale sites |last=Jahshan |first=Elias |date=7 April 2020 |work=Retail Gazette}} Technology companies Cisco and BT volunteered to build the hospital's medical-grade computer networks.{{Cite web|title=NHS Nightingale: responding to urgent healthcare challenges|url=https://gblogs.cisco.com/uki/nhs-nightingale-responding-to-urgent-healthcare-challenges/|access-date=2020-07-15|website=gblogs.cisco.com|date=14 April 2020 |language=en}}
In June 2020, the Department of Health and Social Care estimated the combined set-up costs of the hospitals to be £220{{Nbsp}}million, and stated that running costs for the month of April (for the five which opened during that month) were approximately £15m.{{Cite web|last=Carding|first=Nick|date=10 June 2020|title=Revealed: Government spent more than £200m on Nightingale hospitals|url=https://www.hsj.co.uk/finance-and-efficiency/revealed-government-spent-more-than-200m-on-nightingale-hospitals/7027813.article|access-date=2020-06-25|website=Health Service Journal|language=en}}{{Cite web|last=DHSC|date=8 June 2020|title=Freedom of Information Request Reference FOI-1223558|url=https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/663081/response/1583624/attach/3/FOI%201223558.pdf|access-date=25 June 2020|website=WhatDoTheyKnow}} By January 2021, the estimated total cost of establishing, running and decommissioning the hospitals was forecast to be £532 million by April 2022.{{cite news |last1=Carding |first1=Nick |title=Revealed: Nightingale hospitals to cost half a billion pounds in total |url=https://www.hsj.co.uk/finance-and-efficiency/revealed-nightingale-hospitals-to-cost-half-a-billion-pounds-in-total/7029345.article |access-date=6 January 2022 |work=Health Service Journal |date=20 January 2021 |language=en}}
In November 2020, during the second wave of infections in England, only the Exeter and Manchester hospitals admitted patients.{{Cite web|last1=Helm|first1=Toby|last2=McKie|first2=Robin|last3=Savage|first3=Michael|date=2020-11-28|title=Angry Tory MPs turn on Gove after 'overwhelmed NHS' claims|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/nov/28/angry-tory-mps-turn-on-gove-after-overwhelmed-nhs-claims|access-date=2020-11-29|website=The Guardian|language=en}} Apart from London and Sunderland which were to remain open as vaccination centres, and Exeter which was to continue to be used for diagnostics, all other Nightingales were scheduled to close by April 2021.{{Cite web|title=Covid-19: Nightingales to close, and Scottish outdoor rules to be eased — BBC News|url=https://apple.news/AWbL4kSg4QIe9wOidnpaWCA|access-date=2021-03-09|website=apple.news|language=en-GB|archive-date=9 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210309080201/https://apple.news/AWbL4kSg4QIe9wOidnpaWCA|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web|last=Carding|first=Nick|date=8 March 2021|title=Revealed: Most Nightingales in £500m programme to close|url=https://www.hsj.co.uk/quality-and-performance/revealed-most-nightingales-in-500m-programme-to-close/7029643.article|url-access=registration|url-status=live|access-date=2021-03-29|website=Health Service Journal|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308180304/https://www.hsj.co.uk/quality-and-performance/revealed-most-nightingales-in-500m-programme-to-close/7029643.article |archive-date=8 March 2021 }}
Overall, by August 2021, fewer than 1000 patients were treated in the emergency hospitals.{{cite journal |last1=Oliver |first1=David |title=David Oliver: Were Nightingale units and fever hospitals ever workable responses to covid-19? |journal=BMJ |date=18 August 2021 |volume=374 |pages=n2013 |doi=10.1136/bmj.n2013|pmid=34407959 |s2cid=237207226 |doi-access=free }}
=Birmingham=
{{main|NHS Nightingale Hospital Birmingham}}
On 27 March, chief executive of NHS England Sir Simon Stevens announced a temporary facility providing up to 5,000-beds at Birmingham's National Exhibition Centre would open in mid-April.{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-52070611 |title=Coronavirus: Birmingham and Manchester temporary hospitals announced |date=27 March 2020 |work=BBC News}} The hospital became operational on 10 April, with an initial 804 beds followed within 2 weeks by an additional 384 beds.{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-52245254 |title=Birmingham Nightingale hospital 'operational'|date=4 April 2020|work=BBC News}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.expressandstar.com/news/health/coronavirus-covid19/2020/04/18/birmingham-nightingale-hospital-could-be-used-for-operations/|title=Birmingham Nightingale Hospital could be used for non-coronavirus operations|last=Reynolds|first=Jordan|website=Express & Star|date=18 April 2020 |language=en|access-date=19 April 2020}} It was officially opened as NHS Nightingale Hospital Birmingham by Prince William, using a video link, on 16 April.{{cite news | url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/birminghams-nhs-nightingale-hospital-officially-18099321 |title=Birmingham's NHS Nightingale Hospital officially declared open by Prince William |last=Rodger |first=James |date=16 April 2020 |work=Birmingham Live}} The hospital was designed as a 'step down facility', for patients recovering from COVID-19 or those not suitable for ventilation.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-birmingham-52430855|title=City's Nightingale hospital 'has no patients'|date=26 April 2020|work=BBC News|access-date=26 April 2020|language=en-GB}} It was reported a supporting temporary mortuary was being constructed near Birmingham airport.{{cite web|url=https://www.itv.com/news/2020-03-27/work-starts-on-birmingham-airport-covid-19-mortuary-for-up-to-12-000-bodies/|title=Work starts on Birmingham Airport Covid-19 mortuary for up to 12,000 bodies|website=ITV News|language=en |access-date=1 April 2020|date=27 March 2020}}
On 5 May, it was announced that the 1188 bed hospital would be stood down to standby, having admitted no patients.{{Cite web|title=NHS Nightingale Hospital Birmingham put on 'standby' after no patients admitted|url=https://www.itv.com/news/central/2020-05-05/nhs-nightingale-hospital-birmingham-put-on-standby-after-no-patients-admitted/|website=ITV News|date=5 May 2020 |language=en|access-date=22 May 2020}}
= {{anchor|NHS Nightingale Hospital Bristol}} Bristol =
On 3 April, NHS England announced that a hospital for the Bristol area was to be built in University of the West of England (UWE).{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-52141224 |title=Coronavirus: Bristol and Harrogate Nightingale hospitals announced |date=3 April 2020 |work=BBC News}} The hospital is stated to have a planned capacity of up to 300 beds and is located in the Exhibition and Conference Centre on UWE Bristol's Frenchay campus. Spare student accommodation is also to be made available for doctors and nurses at the Frenchay campus.{{cite web |url=https://www.nbt.nhs.uk/news-media/latest-news/nhs-nightingale-hospital-bristol |title=NHS Nightingale Hospital Bristol |website=North Bristol NHS Trust |date=2 April 2020 |access-date=3 April 2020}} The hospital was to have space for up to 1,000 beds, if needed.{{cite web |url=https://www.england.nhs.uk/2020/04/nhs-to-build-more-nightingale-hospitals-as-london-set-for-opening/ |title=NHS to build more Nightingale Hospitals, as London set for opening |date=3 April 2020 |access-date=3 April 2020 |website=NHS England}}
According to the vice-chancellor of UWE, Steve West, all buildings and car parks required for the hospital have been leased to the NHS for a fee of £1, for as long as is needed.{{Cite web|title=We have handed over the ECC plus all additional buildings required and car parking on a lease for £1.00 for as long as it is needed.|url=https://twitter.com/VCUWE/status/1246455853282201600|last=DL|first=Steve West CBE|date=4 April 2020|website=@VCUWE|language=en|access-date=4 May 2020}}{{Primary source inline|date=June 2020}}
This hospital was officially opened on 27 April 2020, in a virtual ceremony, by Matt Hancock (health secretary), Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, and the chief executive of NHS England, Simon Stevens.{{cite news |url=https://www.itv.com/news/westcountry/2020-04-27/bristol-s-nightingale-hospital-opens-at-uwe-campus/ |title=Bristol's Nightingale hospital to fight against coronavirus opens at UWE campus |date=27 April 2020 |work=ITV News}} It has the capacity to care for 60 patients, with the ability to scale up to 300 if required.
= Cumbria =
On 1 April 2020, it was reported that leisure centres in Cumbria, including the Whitehaven Sports Centre, the Carlisle Sands Centre, the Penrith Leisure Centre, Kendal Leisure Centre and Furness Academy in Barrow were confirmed field hospital sites. Work started on 1 April and when complete there would be 500 beds.{{cite web|url=https://www.hsj.co.uk/coronavirus/field-hospitals-being-set-up-across-england/7027287.article |title=Field hospitals being set up across England |date=1 April 2020 |website=hsj.co.uk |access-date=2 April 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://www.nwemail.co.uk/news/18350144.army-convert-furness-academy-hospital/ |title=Army to convert Furness Academy into a hospital |date=1 April 2020 |website=nwemail.co.uk |access-date=6 April 2020}}
=Exeter=
On 10 April, it was announced that a temporary hospital would be provided in Exeter.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-52248423 |title=Coronavirus: 'Herculean effort' to provide NHS protective gear |date=10 April 2020 |work=BBC News}} The hospital, originally expected to be built in the Westpoint Arena near Clyst St Mary, and provide 200 beds, was due to be ready for use in early May. With the number of COVID-19 cases in the catchment area being lower than first expected, the decision was taken to switch to a smaller site at a former Homebase retail outlet in Sowton. The site was initially leased for nine months, and 116 beds were provided.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=About NHS Nightingale Hospital Exeter|url=https://nightingale-exeter.nhs.uk/about|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211215090441/https://nightingale-exeter.nhs.uk/about |archive-date=15 December 2021 |access-date=2021-01-12|website=NHS Nightingale Hospital Exeter|language=en-GB}}
From 6 July 2020, the hospital was used for cancer screening, and was open for twelve hours each day.{{Cite web|last=Merritt|first=Anita|date=2020-07-02|title=Take a look inside Exeter's new Nightingale Hospital|url=https://www.devonlive.com/news/devon-news/exeter-nightingale-hospital-inside-nhs-4285179|access-date=2020-07-10|website=devonlive}} It has also been used for vaccine trials. On 26 November the hospital received its first COVID-19 patients, who were transferred from the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital as it was "very busy".{{cite news|url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/uk-england-devon-55078706 | title= Coronavirus: Exeter Nightingale to get first patients | date= 26 November 2020 | work= BBC News }}
=Harrogate=
{{main|NHS Nightingale Hospital Yorkshire and the Humber}}
File:NHS Nightingale Hospital Yorkshire and the Humber (10th July 2020) 002.jpg
On 3 April, a hospital for Harrogate, Yorkshire was announced by NHS England, with a 500-bed capacity, in the Harrogate Convention Centre. Tom Moore, a 99-year-old army veteran who had raised more £27M to support health service workers, officially opened the hospital on 21 April 2020.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-52368691 |title=Coronavirus: Capt Tom Moore opens Harrogate NHS Nightingale hospital |date=21 April 2020 |work=BBC News}}
From 4 June the hospital was opened as a radiology outpatient clinic, offering CT scanning.{{Cite web|last=Hambrook|first=Glyn|date=2020-06-02|title=Nightingale Hospital to provide clinical CT scans for the region|url=https://www.harrogate-news.co.uk/2020/06/02/nightingale-hospital-to-provide-clinical-ct-scans-for-the-region/|access-date=2020-07-10|website=Harrogate Informer|language=en-GB}}
On 12 October 2020, amidst a rise in cases in Northern England, the hospital was placed on standby to admit COVID-19 patients.
In March 2021, it was confirmed the hospital would close.{{Cite news|date=2021-03-08|title=Covid: Harrogate Nightingale Hospital to close|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-56327555|access-date=2021-03-09}}
=London=
{{main|NHS Nightingale Hospital London}}
File:NHS Nightingale Hospital London main entrance (2) (cropped).jpg during its refit on 30 March 2020]]
On 24 March 2020, the UK Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Matt Hancock, who was responsible for the NHS in England, announced that ExCeL London would be the first field hospital. It was planned to initially have 500 beds, with the capacity for 4,000–5,000 beds across its two wards if necessary later.{{Cite news |url=https://news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-up-to-10-uk-sites-could-become-makeshift-hospitals-11963733 |title=Coronavirus: Around 10 more UK sites could become makeshift hospitals |last1=Haynes |first1=Deborah |last2=McCann |first2=Kate |date=26 March 2020 |publisher=Sky News}}
It was reported a large mortuary was also being constructed on Wanstead Flats, a few miles to the north of the hospital.{{cite web|url=https://metro.co.uk/2020/04/02/work-begins-giant-morgue-close-nhs-nightingale-hospital-12496539/|title=Huge coronavirus morgue being built near to NHS Nightingale Hospital|date=2 April 2020|website=Metro|language=en |access-date=2 April 2020}} It was also reported that the hospital would be the largest critical care unit in the world.{{Cite web|url=https://news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-nhs-nightingale-becomes-worlds-largest-critical-care-unit-11967757|title=Coronavirus: NHS Nightingale becomes world's largest critical care unit|website=Sky News|language=en |access-date=3 April 2020}}
Also on 3 April, the London hospital became the first to enter service when it was officially opened by Prince Charles by videolink.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/03/prince-charles-to-open-nhs-nightingale-to-treat-covid-19-patients |title=Prince Charles to open NHS Nightingale to treat Covid-19 patients |last=Davies |first=Caroline |date=3 April 2020 |work=The Guardian}}
On 4 May 2020, it was announced that the hospital would be stood down to standby, and would not admit any new patients.{{Cite news|date=4 May 2020|title=Nightingale Hospital in London 'placed on standby'|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/health-52531845|access-date=4 May 2020}}
Events which were to take place at ExCeL London were postponed, cancelled or moved online. An example of the latter was the American Society of Mechanical Engineers Turbo Expo 2020 conference, planned for 22–26 June.{{Cite web|title=2020 {{!}} Turbomachinery Technical Conference & Exposition {{!}} Jun 22-26|url=https://event.asme.org/Turbo-Expo-2020|access-date=2021-09-24|website=event.asme.org}}
=Manchester=
{{main|NHS Nightingale Hospital North West}}
On 27 March, Simon Stevens also announced that a 1,000-bed hospital was to be provided in the Manchester Central Convention Complex, also due to open in mid-April.
The hospital was ready to receive patients on Easter Sunday, 13 April 2020.{{cite news |url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/gallery/huge-new-hospital-manchester-city-18083385 |title=A huge new hospital in Manchester city centre is ready to take its first patients – and all this took just two weeks |work=Manchester Evening News |date=13 April 2020}}{{cite tweet |user=MichaelMcCourt1 |number=1249597933294583810 |date=13 April 2020 |title=1st tweet as CEO NHS Nightingale North West. Proud & thankful to be able to say we take our first patients today. In 14 days huge NHS, Army & NHS partner effort this hospital is open. A lot of attention on us but don't want to forget we are here to support an already busy NW NHS. }} The official opening, by Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall in a recorded speech, took place on 17 April 2020.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-52327319 |title=Coronavirus: Duchess of Cornwall opens NHS Nightingale Hospital North West |date=17 April 2020 |work=BBC News}}
On 12 October 2020, amidst a rise in cases in Northern England, the hospital was placed on standby to admit COVID-19 patients.
= Sunderland =
{{main|NHS Nightingale Hospital North East}}
On 10 April, it was announced that a 460-bed facility would be built in Washington, Tyne and Wear. The hospital, at the Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Advanced Manufacturing, was expected to be ready for use within two weeks and be operated by Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.{{Cite web|url=https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/north-east-nightingale-hospital-treat-18072765|title=Nightingale Hospital for coronavirus patients to open in the North East|last=Lindsay|first=Kali|date=10 April 2020|website=nechronicle|access-date=11 April 2020}}
The hospital was officially opened on 5 May 2020, in a virtual ceremony, by Matt Hancock (Secretary of State for Health). The opening ceremony also featured television celebrities Ant and Dec, football pundit Alan Shearer and cricketer Ben Stokes.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-52543900 |title=Coronavirus: Nightingale hospital opens in Sunderland |date=5 May 2020 |work=BBC News}}
On 12 October 2020, amidst a rise in cases in Northern England, the hospital was placed on standby to admit COVID-19 patients.
NHS Scotland
{{main|NHS Louisa Jordan}}
{{As of|2020|04}}, the SEC Centre in Glasgow was converted to the NHS Louisa Jordan, a temporary hospital serving Scotland. Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said the facility would have a 300-bed capacity but with the potential to raise it beyond 1,000 beds. The facility was named NHS Louisa Jordan after the World War I nurse Louisa Jordan.{{cite web|url=https://www.itv.com/news/2020-04-01/work-begins-converting-several-uk-facilities-into-temporary-coronavirus-hospitals|title=Glasgow facility being converted into coronavirus hospital to be named after World War One nurse|website=ITV News|date=April 2020 |language=en |access-date=1 April 2020}}
NHS Wales
{{further|COVID-19 pandemic in Wales#Temporary hospitals}}
{{Location map many
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= Cardiff =
{{Main|Dragon's Heart Hospital}}
On 27 March 2020, Cardiff and Vale University Health Board CEO Len Richards announced that the Principality Stadium would be turned into a temporary hospital with 2,000 beds.{{cite web|url=https://www.itv.com/news/wales/2020-03-27/principality-stadium-to-be-turned-into-field-hospital-with-2000-beds/|title=Principality Stadium to be turned into 'field hospital' with 2000 beds|date=27 March 2020|website=ITV News|language=en |access-date=30 March 2020}} It was to be the third largest hospital in the United Kingdom, after the Nightingale Hospital at the Excel Centre London and the Nightingale Hospital at Birmingham's National Exhibition Centre.{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-52228321 |title=Coronavirus: Principality Stadium hospital taking shape |date=9 April 2020 |work=BBC News}}
On 8 April its name was given as the Dragon's Heart Hospital ({{langx|cy|Ysbyty Calon y Ddraig}}) and it was announced that the first 300 beds would be available on 11 April.{{Cite news|url=http://www.wales.nhs.uk/news/52401|title=Ysbyty Calon y Ddraig, The Dragon's Heart Hospital|work=NHS Wales|date=8 April 2020|access-date=11 April 2020}}
After the last patient left the hospital on 4 June, it was reported that the hospital was placed on a standby status.[https://www.itv.com/news/wales/2020-06-08/dragon-s-heart-hospital-put-on-standby-as-it-stops-admitting-patients Dragon's Heart Hospital put on standby as it shuts to patients] 8 June 2020, www.itv.com, accessed 20 September 2020
In September it was reported that the hospital is to be replaced by a smaller facility nearby, next to the University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff.[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-54147926 Coronavirus: New field hospital replaces Principality Stadium site] 14 September 2020 www.bbc.co.uk, accessed 20 September 2020
= Regional temporary hospitals =
In addition, work has begun to provide 340 bed spaces{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-52091249 |title=Coronavirus: Where are the extra hospital beds in Wales going? |date=7 April 2020 |work=BBC News}} at Llandarcy Academy of Sport in Neath{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/02/field-hospitals-built-in-south-wales-before-coronavirus-onslaught |title=Field hospitals built in south Wales before coronavirus 'onslaught' |date=2 April 2020 |work=The Guardian |access-date= 4 April 2020}} and 150 beds at a council facility in Ty Trevithick in Abercynon,{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-52168944 |title=Coronavirus: NHS in Wales to double capacity to cope |date=5 April 2020 |work=BBC News}} while Parc y Scarlets in Llanelli is to be used to provide 500 beds,{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/52065764 |title=Coronavirus: Dragons, Ospreys and Scarlets help pandemic crisis |date=2 April 2020 |work=BBC Sport}} with Rodney Parade in Newport being turned into a testing station. In northern Wales, Venue Cymru in Llandudno was prepared to receive 350 beds, Deeside Leisure Centre in Flintshire to have 250 beds, with an extra 80 beds at Glan Clwyd Hospital in Bodelwyddan, Denbighshire, while Bangor University was to be prepared to receive 250 beds.
The Bluestone National Park Resort in Pembrokeshire is to be used as a recovery centre for COVID-19 patients.{{cite news |last1=Clements |first1=Laura |title=Bluestone holiday resort in Pembrokeshire to become coronavirus recovery hospital |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/bluestone-pembrokeshire-shut-coronavirus-hospital-17994619 |access-date=6 April 2020 |work=Wales Online |date=27 March 2020}}
= The Bay Field Hospital, Swansea =
In April 2020, Bay Studios on the site of the former Swansea Bay Motor Factory located on the outskirts of Swansea City Centre was announced by Swansea Council to be the chosen site for a 1,000-bed hospital. Within 1 month 420 beds and 80 discharge seats were made available, and the facility was handed over to the Swansea Bay University Health Board on 10 May 2020.{{cite web |title=24/7 effort turns old factory into new hospital - in just a month |url=https://www.swansea.gov.uk/BayHandover |publisher=Swansea Council |date=7 May 2020 |access-date=11 May 2020 |archive-date=11 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200511072855/https://www.swansea.gov.uk/BayHandover |url-status=dead }} Swansea Council funded the Swansea Bay Hospital injecting £50 million of available funds in to the project which was set aside for the new indoor arena which is currently being built in the City Centre.
= Rationalisation, autumn 2020 =
During the earlier part of 2020, a total of 19 'field hospitals' were constructed across Wales (one source gives '17 and 2 community discharge units'). These included conversions of existing health facilities as well as purpose-built hospitals and conversions of stadia and other leisure facilities. In September 2020, it was announced that these would be rationalised down to a total of 10 such special facilities.
HSC Northern Ireland
HSC Northern Ireland started planning for a similar initiative in mid-March 2020, with a number of sites under consideration.{{cite web|url=http://www.irishnews.com/news/northernirelandnews/2020/03/18/news/-field-hospitals-and-refrigerated-lorries-as-temporary-mortuaries-worst-case-scenario-plans-drawn-up-to-tackle-coronavirus-1870421/|title='Field hospitals' and refrigerated lorries as temporary mortuaries: worst case scenario plans drawn up to tackle coronavirus in Northern Ireland|last=Graham|first=Seanin|date=18 March 2020|website=The Irish News|language=en |access-date=31 March 2020}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/health/coronavirus/coronavirus-venues-could-become-field-hospitals-as-a-tsunami-of-sick-people-looms-for-northern-ireland-39082779.html|title=Coronavirus: Venues could become field hospitals as a 'tsunami of sick people' looms for Northern Ireland|work=Belfast Telegraph |access-date=31 March 2020|language=en-GB|issn=0307-1235}}
HSC Northern Ireland is also using the "Nightingale" name for its hospitals.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nursingtimes.net/news/hospital/northern-ireland-announces-plans-for-new-coronavirus-hospital-02-04-2020/|title=Northern Ireland announces plans for new coronavirus hospital|last=Mitchell|first=Gemma|date=2020-04-02|website=Nursing Times|language=en|access-date=2020-04-14}}
On 2 April it was reported that the tower block of Belfast City Hospital was being converted into the first Nightingale in Northern Ireland.{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-52129644 |title=Coronavirus: City Hospital to host NI's first Nightingale |work=BBC News |date=2 April 2020}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/news/city-hospital-be-northern-irelands-first-nightingale-hospital|title=City hospital to be Northern Ireland's first Nightingale hospital|date=2 April 2020|website=Health|language=en |access-date=6 April 2020}} The block was to become a 230-bed unit staffed by a team drawn from across Northern Ireland.
The same report also stated that First Minister Arlene Foster had revealed that a Nightingale hospital could be based at the Eikon Exhibition Centre in Balmoral Park, and that the Department of Health was assessing its potential as a second Nightingale facility in preparation for a possible second wave later in 2020.
Gibraltar Health Authority (GHA)
{{see|Europa Point Sports Complex#Florence Nightingale Field Hospital}}
A "Nightingale" field hospital was completed in Gibraltar at the Europa Point Sports Complex, during the week of 3 April 2020. In May it was described as being about to be progressively mothballed, with its equipment to be kept stored and the facility to be available for use at 5–7 days' notice.[https://www.chronicle.gi/mothballed-nightingale-could-be-up-and-running-within-days-if-needed/ Mothballed Nightingale could be up and running within days if needed] 16 May 2020 www.chronicle.gi, accessed 22 October 2020
Jersey
A "Nightingale" field hospital was completed as a 'wing' of Jersey General Hospital (on a playing field {{convert|3|km|mi}} away) and opened on 11 May 2020.[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-jersey-52619079 Coronavirus: Jersey's Nightingale hospital opens] 11 May 2020 www.bbc.co.uk, accessed 18 October 2020
Staffing
At full capacity, it was estimated that the NHS Nightingale Hospital London alone would need up to 16,000 workers to keep it running.{{cite web|url=https://www.itv.com/news/2020-04-01/more-than-16-000-staff-needed-to-run-nightingale-hospital-at-full-capacity/|title=More than 16,000 staff needed to run Nightingale Hospital at full capacity|website=ITV News|language=en |access-date=1 April 2020|date=1 April 2020}}
Nursing leaders expressed concern about where the extra workers to staff the new hospitals would be found.{{cite web|url=https://www.nursingtimes.net/news/coronavirus/nurse-leaders-in-the-dark-about-nhs-nightingale-workforce-27-03-2020/|title=Nurse leaders in the dark about NHS Nightingale workforce|last=Gilroy|first=Rebecca|date=27 March 2020|website=Nursing Times|language=en |access-date=30 March 2020}} The government issued a call for airline cabin crew to volunteer to be cross-trained as specialist health assistants.{{Cite news |last1=Sample |first1=Ian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/30/cabin-crews-drafted-help-new-coronavirus-hospitals |title=Cabin crews drafted in to help at new coronavirus hospitals |date=29 March 2020 |work=The Guardian |access-date=30 March 2020 |last2=Marsh |first2=Sarah}}
List of actual and planned hospitals
See also
{{portal|COVID-19}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{COVID-19 pandemic}}
{{COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom, Crown Dependencies and British Overseas Territories}}