NHS Nightingale hospitals to return in England to deal with Omicron surge
'Surge hubs' will be set up across the country
Last updated 30th Dec 2021
New NHS Nightingale hospitals are set to be opened in England to combat the spread of the Omicron variant of coronavirus in hospitals.
Eight 'surge hubs' will be established across England, each with a capacity of roughly 100 beds. Work on their construction is due to begin as early as this week, NHS England said.
In addition to the eight planned for, further sites could be set up to increase the total capacity of the 'surge hubs' to as many as 4,000 people.
Manned by a mixture of hospital consultants, nurses and clinical staff, the new Nightingale sites are to look after patients that require minimal treatment whilst they recover from illness, should capacity in other hospitals reach 100%.
The announcement from the NHS in England comes as hospitals are needing to use hospices, care homes and hotels to safely discharge medically fit patients and free up much needed beds.
It also comes as the UK grapples with the Omicron variant of coronavirus. On Wednesday (December 29), over 183,000 cases were reported - more than any other day during the pandemic.
Speaking about the new Nightingale centres, 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."