NHS told to prepare for use of Nightingale hospitals in coming weeks

NHS England has told hospitals to begin planning for the use of Nightingale Hospitals as the numbers of coronavirus patients in hospitals is expected to surge in coming weeks.

In a letter sent on Wednesday night hospitals were told to activate all of their emergency capacity to cope with the expected pressures over the coming weeks.

This is likely to mean the mass redeployment of staff and designating wards, surgical theatres and recovery areas as makeshift intensive care units for patients.

NHS England did not explain how the Nightingale Hospitals would be staffed if the decision was made to activate them.

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Source: The Independent, 24 December 2020