The NHS is setting up new Nightingale 'surge hubs' as hospital bosses go on the 'war footing', ahead of a potential wave of Omicron admissions.
The temporary wards will be capable of holding around 100 patients, and will be erected in the 'grounds' of eight hospitals across the country, according to NHS chiefs.
Building is set to begin this week on some of the structures, with a North West hub to be set up at the Royal Preston Hospital.
READ MORE: NHS in the midst of a 'lockdown' crisis as PCR tests evaporate and results severely delayed
However, concerns have been raised by medics about staffing levels across the NHS, which could spell difficulties for the Nightingale sites.
Workforce absences continue with more staff members testing positive for Covid-19 or having to isolate as infection rates soar.
The issue has been made worse by the struggle to access PCR testing kits and delays in receiving results, due to to high demand, as one Greater Manchester doctor told the Manchester Evening News.
NHS Trusts have also been asked to identify areas, such as gyms and education centres, that can be converted to accommodate patients, amid suggestions that more Nightingale sites could be added to create up to 4,000 'super surge' beds across the country.
In April of last year, Greater Manchester opened its Nightingale Hospital in Manchester - a £10m facility built at Manchester Central Convention Complex to provide care for hundreds of Covid-19 patients across the north west.
The hospital began ‘ceasing operations' by the end of March, 2021, amid falling bed occupancy levels.
One source has said Greater Manchester is not currently planning to open any separate Nightingale facilities this time, and has previously ruled out placing patients in hotels, though the region is looking at reopening mothballed wards.
The Nightingale sites will offer 'resilience if the record number of COVID-19 infections leads to a surge in admissions and outstrips existing capacity', the NHS has said today (December 30).
NHS national medical director Professor Stephen Powis said: “Given the high level of COVID-19 infections and increasing hospital admissions, the NHS is now on a war footing.
“We do not yet know exactly how many of those who catch the virus will need hospital treatment, but given the number of infections we cannot wait to find out before we act and so work is beginning from today to ensure these facilities are in place.
“We hoped never to have to use the original Nightingales and I hope we never to have to use these new hubs.
“Staff across the health service are working around the clock to provide the best possible care to patients and rollout the NHS Covid vaccination programme.
“The public can play their part by following the guidance to limit the spread of infection and by getting boosted now.
“The science is clear. Two doses of vaccine do not provide enough protection against Omicron so if you have not yet had a life-saving booster do not delay any longer.”
Along with the Nightingale hub due to be set up in Preston, other locations include:
- North East and Yorkshire – Leeds, St James’ site
- Midlands – Solihull Hospital, University Hospitals Birmingham and University Hospitals Leicester
- East of England – Lister Hospital, Stevenage
- London – St George’s
- South East – William Harvey Hospital, Ashford
- South West – North Bristol
The Nightingale news comes as the infections rates across the country continue to grow.
UK Covid cases hit a record high with 183,037 new infections, according to the latest update on the evening of December 29.
The UK Health Security Agency admitted, on Wednesday evening, that testing was being 'temporarily paused' during times of high demand, but has urged people to keep trying to get a test.
Meanwhile, NHS staff have been working over Christmas on the plans to create 4,000 “super surge” beds across the health service. By comparison, a large district hospital might typically have around 500 beds.
If hospitals need to activate the new beds after exhausting every other option, equipment previously used for the original Nightingale hospitals will be rapidly distributed to them.
The new Nightingale facilities would take patients who, although not fit for discharge, need minimal support and monitoring while they recover from illness, freeing up regular ward beds to provide care for those with more intensive needs.
Patients may include those recovering from Covid-19 who are no longer infectious and do not need intensive oxygen therapy.
The units would be led by hospital consultants and nurses, but with other clinical and non-clinical staff brought in with rapid training to be able to perform routine checks and other tasks, say NHS planners.
Local leaders have also been told to consider using hotels and care hubs in care homes to provide places for people to recover before going home, rather than in hospital wards.
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