LONDON’S Excel centre will become a 4000 bed field hospital in a bid to deal with the coronavirus crisis.
The massive conference centre is being built by the Army with military and civilian medics expected to help deal with the swell in patient numbers.
Matt Hancock told the nation this afternoon: “We will next week open a new hospital, temporary hospital, the NHS nightingale hospital.
“With the help of the military and with NHS clinicians we will make sure we have the capacity we need so that everybody can get the support they need.”
He used today’s Downing Street press conference to reveal the news – and call for an army of 250,000 Brits to help volunteer for the NHS.
35,000 retired NHS staff have responded calls to come back to work to help fight the disease, he added.
HOAR can also reveal that the NEC in Birmingham is being considered as another regional field hospital.
Military chiefs will also look to build more massive field hospitals across the nation in conference centres, football stadiums and cricket grounds.
East London’s Excel centre will have 500 operation beds available in the next few days, with more beds coming in the next few weeks.
MoD sources said “These will be very big facilities, what exactly they will used for will be for the NHS.
“The first is in London but we will create a service that will support the entire UK.
“The first is being rolled out as we speak – it will be ready in a few days.
“Each region and nation will get similar to what London is getting.
“London is two weeks ahead of the rest of the country, and military planners are working what happens week to week, so I would expect to
see more across the country soon.”
The NEC conference centre is Birmingham is being considered as another location for a massive temporary hospital.
NEC Group CEO Paul Thandi, said: “As a cornerstone of the local community, we are committed to playing our part in ensuring the health and wellbeing of everyone in our area.
“As such, we stand ready and willing to help our emergency services – especially at a time like this.
“The NEC is well equipped to be used as a support base if such need arises so please be assured, that if we are requested to do so, we can action this with immediate effect.”
The news came after the PM imposed a drastic lockdown across the UK today – forbidding Brits from going out of their homes except for four reasons.
People should only be leaving to pick up essentials, go to work if they can’t work at home, attend a medical appointment, or care for a vulnerable person.
The drastic measures announced last night which will change every aspect of Brits’ lives included:
- All gatherings of more than two people in public were forbidden – meaning a ban on all social events, including weddings and baptisms
- Tens of thousands of non-essential shops were ordered to close
- Communal play and exercise areas inside parks will also be shut down, but not parks themselves
- Places of worship such as churches and mosques must also shut, except to host for funerals
- Travel on roads, trains and buses was also banned, unless it’s essential to get to work.
Boris‘ new measures banned travel on roads, trains and buses, unless it’s essential to get to work as the coronavirus death toll soared.
The MOD said that ships and submariners company were being “forward quarantined” to prevent an outbreak on ships.
The source added: “It means that we will ensure that we get a clean crew.
Troops preparing for deployment in Estonia and Afghanistan will be monitored and tested should they show symptoms.
A host of Premier League clubs outside London and potentially even Wembley would could also be turned into hospitals if necessary.
The Government has yet to formally approach governing bodies over the proposals, but sources within football recognise that several inner-city stadiums could be ideally positioned to help.
Top class county cricket clubs are in conversations on how their cricket pitches can be used as field hospitals while the sport is in lockdown.
Tim Bostock, chief executive of Durham County Cricket Club, said he had offered the club’s facilities, which he estimated would fit up to 700 hospital beds.