Covid: NHS Nightingale London take in its first patient

After being built in just 9 days, NHS Nightingale London admits the first patient.

After opening the hospital several days ago, NHS Nightingale London admitted its first Covid-19 patient. NHS Nightingale London was created by the transformation of the Excel exhibition centre into a unit capable of treating 4,000 critically ill people in the space of nine days.

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Covid: NHS Nightingale London admitted its first Covid patient

The temporary hospital was put together in less than a fortnight to provide further healthcare capacity to the capital, which has remained the epicentre of the UK Covid-19 outbreak.

However, a spokesperson confirmed there was still space available in hospitals across the city.

The facility was officially opened by Prince Charles via video link on Friday. It will provide up to 4,000 beds equipped with ventilators and oxygen and can be used for those who require further intensive care treatment for Covid-19. Once the hospital is fully operational, around 25,000 doctors, nurses and support staff will work at the location. It comes after the site practised a patient transfer alongside officials from the Royal Air Force and the London Ambulance service.

The Nightingale hospital in East London is the first of a number of temporary sites being set up in events spaces across the country, which are left vacant by social distancing measures. Then temporary morgues have also reportedly been set up in the east of the capital, with tents erected in Newham and Waltham Forest.