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First Look Inside Huge New Coronavirus Hospital Made To Care For 4,000 Patients

First Look Inside Huge New Coronavirus Hospital Made To Care For 4,000 Patients

It is in the ExCel Centre in London

Amelia Ward

Amelia Ward

Photos show the first glimpses inside NHS Nightingale - the new hospital complex that has been built especially to care for more than 4000 coronavirus patients.

The new complex is absolutely huge, with photos from inside showing the sheer scale of it, with row after row of beds, each fitted with medical equipment.

PA

The halls of the hopsitals have all been constructed over the last week by NHS staff and British Army engineers. It's set up inside East London's ExCel Centre, in Canning Town.

The hospital has two wards, each with the possibility to accommodate up to 2,000 patients.

Tthe Army has helped to build it.
PA

Plans for another two hospitals have been announced so far, with one expected to be built at the Birmingham National Exhibition Centre (NEC) and one in the Manchester Central Convention Complex (formerly the GMEX).

The Manchester site will have 500 more beds from mid April, with a further 500 expected, giving it a 1000 patient capacity.

The huge site.
PA

The NEC site will see space for 5,000 patients. Cardiff's Principality Stadium is also expected to provide space for 2000 beds.

Sir Simon Stevens, chief executive of NHS England, said the hospitals will be ready for patients this week.

NHS England's chief executive Simon Stevens during a visit to the ExCel centre.
PA

He said: "Today there are over 9,000 positive coronavirus patients in hospitals across England and we know that number is only going to increase.

"That's why what you see here is a mass mobilisation, taking place right across the country, but also at these new Nightingale hospitals.

"This has been an extraordinary team effort on the part of nurses and doctors and therapists and pharmacists across London, but also volunteers and paramedics and people returning to help.

"And when these services are needed, they will be available beginning later this week, and because this is a global health emergency we're actually seeing similar types of hospitals being established in Berlin and Madrid and New York."

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: Coronavirus