NHS patients are being moved to a luxury hotel to try and combat huge pressure on hospital beds.
The four-star Bristol Hotel is now being used as a temporary care facility in a bid to free up bed space at overflowing hospitals in the city.
It is designed for patients well enough to be discharged from hospital but not ready to go home.
And it also comes with live-in staff who provide round-the-clock care for patients, who have their own en-suite room facilities and access to communal areas “where appropriate".
The NHS faces significant pressures with Covid cases in both Southmead Hospital and the Bristol Royal Infirmary again on the rise.
It opened just before Christmas and is aimed at patients who are medically well enough to leave hospital but still need further care before they can go home.
Dr Peter Brindle, medical director at the NHS Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group, said: “We don’t want people to be in a hospital bed any longer than they need to be, and the opening of the new care facility is one of the steps we have taken to support people’s ongoing recovery in a more appropriate environment.
“Like every area of the country, we are facing significant service pressures at the moment.
"This facility is designed to improve flow through our hospitals – supporting people to recover from their hospital stay in a more appropriate setting, and ensuring hospital beds are there for people with acute medical needs.
"It should also improve ambulance response times."
“As a health and care partnership, we are focussed on making the best use of our resources and providing the right care for people at what is a very challenging time. We will be continuously reviewing the service, including taking on board the experience and feedback of people receiving care there.”
The NHS and care company Abicare are working together on the facility at the hotel, which describes itself as a "luxury space."
The hotel provides a luxurious alternative to a hospital bed.
Some of the rooms look like patients woukld be happy top stay there with large doubled beds and plush curtains.
Many people would be envious of a night at the hotel whether not they are suffering from the effects of covid.
Anne-Marie Perry, managing director of Abicare, added: "The hotel and care partnership model is running successfully in other parts of the country, and we have had excellent feedback from patients and families.
“We provide a caring and therapeutic environment for the people discharged to us – all of whom have low levels of care need, and may require additional rehabilitation or other support before they can return home.
“We are looking forward to welcoming people to the Bristol service for their ongoing recovery.”
