NHS Nightingale Hospital Birmingham
NHS Nightingale Hospital Birmingham | |
---|---|
University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust | |
Geography | |
Location | National Exhibition Centre Solihull B40 1NT, West Midlands |
Coordinates | 52°27′12″N 1°43′10″W / 52.45333°N 1.71944°W |
Organisation | |
Care system | NHS England |
Type | COVID-19 critical care |
Services | |
Beds |
|
Helipad | Birmingham Airport |
History | |
Opened | 16 April 2020 |
Links | |
Website | nightingale-birmingham |
The NHS Nightingale Hospital Birmingham is the second of the temporary NHS Nightingale Hospitals set up by NHS England to help to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic. It was constructed inside the National Exhibition Centre, Solihull, and opened on 16 April 2020.[1]
As of 30 August it had not treated any patients.[2]
Background
To add extra critical care capacity during the COVID-19 epidemic in the UK, and to treat those with COVID-19, plans were made to create further temporary hospital spaces for those in need of treatment and care.[3][4] They have been named "Nightingale Hospitals", after Florence Nightingale who came to prominence for nursing soldiers during the Crimean War and is regarded as the founder of modern nursing.[5]
Details
The hospital was announced as operational on 10 April 2020,[6] and was scheduled to receive its first patients on 12 April, to help Midlands hospitals cope with the COVID-19 pandemic.[7][8] It will support 23 Midlands hospitals by taking patients who are convalescing from having COVID-19, patients who are require less intensive treatment, and patients who need palliative care.[7] It is intended to relieve pressure on conventional hospitals where the most seriously ill patients are treated.[7] It is the second temporary 'Nightingale Hospital' to be built in England,[7] following NHS Nightingale London, that opened on 3 April 2020 in the ExCeL London exhibition and convention centre.[9]
It falls under the University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust.[7]
The hospital occupies halls 8-12 and 16 of the NEC, connected via the Atrium.[10]
It had 496 beds divided into four wards from day one, with the option to expand to 800 immediately if needed.[11] Should things worsen a phase two is envisaged that would bring the number of beds in use up to 2,000.[11] In the worst-case scenario 4,000 beds would be available.[11]
The hospital was formally opened by Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, via remote video link, on 16 April.[12]
It will include a new Tesco store exclusively for the use of its staff.[13]
Personnel
The following have been involved in the creation of the hospital:
- Paul Thandi (CEO of the NEC Group).[14]
- Anthony Marsh (West Midlands Ambulance Service Chief Executive).[14]
- Major Angela Laycock (66 Works Group, 170 Infrastructure Support Engineer Group, Royal Engineers).[14][11]
- Dr David Rosser (Chief Executive, University Hospitals Birmingham).[14][11]
- Lisa Stalley-Green (Executive Chief Nurse, University Hospitals Birmingham and Chief Nurse of NHS Nightingale Birmingham).[11]
- Morag Gates (Project Director, NHS Nightingale Birmingham).[11]
References
- ^ "Birmingham's NHS Nightingale Hospital officially declared open by Prince William". Birmingham Mail. 16 April 2020.
- ^ "Coronavirus: Birmingham's Nightingale hospital 'has no patients'". BBC News. 26 April 2020. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
- ^ Sabbagh, Dan (16 March 2020). "Army likely to embed medics in NHS hospitals to help fight coronavirus". The Guardian.
- ^ Schraer, Rachel (24 March 2020). "ExCeL Centre to be used as coronavirus hospital". BBC News.
- ^ "Coronavirus: Nightingale Hospital opens at London's ExCel centre". BBC News. 3 April 2020.
- ^ "Birmingham Nightingale hospital 'operational'". BBC News. 10 April 2020. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
- ^ a b c d e "Inside NHS Nightingale Birmingham at the NEC". ITV News. 8 April 2020.
- ^ "Birmingham's Nightingale Hospital to be operational within days". Express and Star. 3 April 2020. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
- ^ Davies, Caroline (3 April 2020). "Prince Charles to open NHS Nightingale to treat Covid-19 patients". The Guardian.
- ^ "Site Map" (PDF). UHB. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Birmingham NEC Nightingale Hospital 'phenomenal' effort". Express & Star. 8 April 2020.
- ^ "Prince William opens Nightingale Hospital". BBC News.
- ^ "Birmingham's Nightingale hospital Tesco store for NHS staff only". BBC News. 7 April 2020.
- ^ a b c d "NHS Nightingale Hospital Birmingham on Track to See Patients Within a Week". NEC. 8 April 2020. Retrieved 8 April 2020.