Pictures have been released showing how Cardiff Arms Park is being used as part of Dragon’s Heart Hospital.
The adjacent Principality Stadium has been transformed into a temporary field hospital to help in the battle against the coronavirus pandemic.
It will have 2,000 beds, making it the largest hospital in Wales and the second largest in the United Kingdom.
Now the Arms Park next door - the home of Cardiff Blues and Cardiff RFC - is also undergoing a makeover to assist in the project.
It's providing logistical support during the building of the facility, with Phase A having completed over Easter weekend, which will see the hospital open its doors to the first 350 patients in the days ahead.
Once fully up and running, the Arms Park will house a staff welfare centre, catering and storage facilities and the headquarters for the hospital’s facilities management.
As part of the transformation, the artificial playing surface has been covered, with a new marquee facility set to go up on the pitch.
Two marquees have already been put up outside the ground, while the concourse under the main stand is being made use of for storage purposes, with temporary changing facilities and showers also being installed.
The Blues are working collaboratively with the WRU, the Principality Stadium, Cardiff and Vale Health Board, Cardiff Council and other key stakeholders in the project.
Blues chief executive, Richard Holland said: “As soon as we were made aware of the plans to turn the Principality Stadium into a hospital, we offered the entire Arms Park site to assist with the project.
“Our operations team have been working tirelessly with colleagues at the WRU, Principality Stadium and the local health board and the Arms Park has now been transformed.
“The site will initially act as a logistical base during the construction phase of the hospital and once completed we will have welfare, catering and other facilities available to assist the brilliant NHS staff.
“These are uncertain and unprecedented times but we are proud to be able to support the NHS by making our facilities available.”
Cardiff and Vale University Health Board Chief Executive Len Richards added: “I’d like to thank the Welsh Rugby Union, Cardiff Council and Cardiff Blues for their commitment to the Ysbyty Calon y Ddraig Hospital.
“We have never undertaken a project this big before and in such a short space of time. We are planning on the basis of what we think we might need to ensure we are as ready as we can be.
“I sincerely hope we don’t need to use all of the capacity but it is far better to have developed plans based upon the scientific evidence and modelling of the experts.
“The staffing levels and type of patients received at the hospital is part of our planning and is constantly being refined in line with the trajectory of the Coronavirus.
“The facility will allow us to free up capacity at our other hospital sites so that we can continue to provide services to patients with other health conditions.
“Please help us to help those who need our hospitals the most by staying home, washing your hands and heeding the clinical advice to keep you and your families safe.”
