Reassuring Developments Amid the Covid-19 Pandemic
I find the following statements and information very reassuring.
The Nightingale North East hospital is part of a nationwide effort being coordinated by NHS England and the Department of Health and Social Care, as part of the national response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The facility was launched in May at the Centre of Sustainable Advanced Manufacturing, on the International Advanced Manufacturing Park (IAMP), near Nissan’s Washington car plant. Since then, however, it has yet to treat a single patient.
A 460-Bed Emergency Facility on Standby
It has been transformed into a 20-bed hospital, including eight intensive care wards, and gives the North East the capacity to care for another 460 coronavirus patients if hospitals are filled. Up to 2,500 staff members could be working at the hospital if it reaches full capacity.
The 460-bed facility will only start taking patients if the region’s hospitals are unable to cope with a potential surge of Covid-19 cases that require hospital treatment.
Prepared as a Last Resort
David Chandler, chief finance officer at Sunderland Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), speaking at a meeting of Sunderland City Council’s (SCC) Health and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee, said, “It’s for the wider system and very much a last resort.”
“It’s not something we’re planning to use; it’s an emergency fallback back and all plans are to look to not have to use it unless we have a very significant wave two scenario.”
National Perspective on Nightingale Facilities
Similar facilities set up across the country, to step in if the NHS was overwhelmed by a surge in patients, have been mothballed following a slowing in the rate of virus transmission.
Whilst fears have been raised of the potential for a fresh surge in COVID-19 cases coinciding with a bad flu season and other ‘winter pressures’, bosses remain hopeful the centre, in Washington, will not be needed.
A Thought on Preparedness and Public Perception
I was surprised to read that some people consider the Nightingale hospitals a waste of time, money, and resources.
Surely they were created as a form of insurance, which has been a necessary evil for centuries. Some people lose out, paying premiums against a risk that never materialises. Others gain by receiving money to cover losses as a result of a disaster of some kind.
Hopes for a Safe and Unused Backup
With the relaxing of rules and guidelines and children returning to school, there are already signs that the number of Coronavirus cases is on the increase.
Let us hope that the Nightingale hospitals are eventually dismantled without having treated any patients. In my humble opinion, the cost will have been money well spent.
John Lightfoot MBE, Solar Solve Chairman
