David Lloyd health clubs could be turned into emergency hospitals in response to the Covid-19 outbreak.
According to ITV News, the chain is in talks with the Government about converting a “handful” of its largest gyms into emergency medical facilities in an attempt to prevent the NHS becoming overwhelmed during the pandemic.
The clubs are not currently in use as Prime Minister Boris Johnson ordered leisure centres and gyms to shut their doors during the lockdown.
A spokesman for the fitness group confirmed discussions were under way, ITV News said.
It comes after photos revealed the inside of the ExCel centre in London, which is being made into a temporary hospital with two wards – each for 2,000 people – to aid the health service’s response.
The NHS will build more temporary hospitals in Birmingham, Manchester, Cardiff and Scotland.
The National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham will add an initial 500 beds, with the potential to grow to 2,000 if necessary.
Manchester Central Convention Complex will add 500 more, with the capacity to expand to 1,000, and Cardiff’s Principality Stadium will provide up to 2,000 more.
Efforts are under way to source the doctors, nurses and non-clinical workers to staff the huge units.
