London's Excel Conference Centre To Be Turned Into A 4,000 Bed Field Hospital
Image Courtesy of Excel London
Following on from Madrid’s example with Ifema, The Excel, in the capital’s Docklands area, which is currently used for conferences, will be transformed into the NHS Nightingale Hospital, providing capacity for 4,000 beds.
It will be opened and run with the help of the military, the cabinet minister confirmed at a press conference in Downing Street on Tuesday.
Hancock said: “We will, next week, open a new hospital – a temporary hospital – the NHS Nightingale Hospital at the Excel centre in London.
“The NHS Nightingale Hospital will comprise two wards, each of 2,000 people.
Military planners and personnel are said to be involved in the operation to convert the 100,000 square metre site in east London’s Docklands.
It is necessary as a surge of patients with coronavirus could overwhelm hospitals in the capital, with extra capacity needed to treat people with severe breathing problems.
Other venues across the country are also understood to be under consideration, including the O2 concert venue, Wembley Stadium and the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham.
The field hospital will focus on critical care for people struggling to breathe.
It is expected to be staffed by military medical personnel and NHS and private hospital staff.
