London Nightingale hospital to be mothballed

The Nightingale hospital in East London that was set up to deal with a potential influx of patients affected with Covid-19 is to be mothballed, according to the NHS.

Those working at the field hospital at the ExCeL conference centre were told that no new patients will be admitted and that the facility would be put on standby.

The hospital was set up as a specialist intensive care unit for coronavirus patients. It took nine days to refit and equip with beds and ventilators.

NHS leaders were worried that the health crisis would overwhelm the system so the Nightingale hospitals were erected. 

The field hospital will remain on standby should there be a second wave of cases as the government eases social distancing rules. 

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