The location of first ‘covid surge hubs’ has been announced by the Department of Health and Social Care.

A DHSC statement today said: “Temporary structures capable of housing around 100 patients will be erected in the grounds of eight hospitals across the country, with work starting as early as this week.”

The plan to establish a series of “mini-nightingales” was first revealed by HSJ eight days ago.

Each NHS England region is to have its own “surge hub”, with the Midlands being given two. The locations are:

  • North West – Royal Preston
  • North East and Yorkshire – Leeds, St James’ site
  • Midlands – Solihull Hospital, University Hospitals Birmingham, and University Hospitals Leicester
  • East of England – Lister Hospital, Stevenage
  • London – St George’s
  • South East – William Harvey Hospital, Ashford
  • South West – North Bristol

The DHSC statement continued: “Placing the new Nightingale facilities in hospital grounds will make it easier to flex staff and equipment if there is a surge in admissions, providing access to diagnostics and emergency care if required.

“NHS trusts have also been asked to identify areas such as gyms and education centres that can be converted to accommodate patients and more Nightingale sites could be added to create up to 4,000 “super surge” beds across the country.”

NHS England medical director Professor Stephen Powis said: “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.”

Health and social care secretary Sajid Javid commented: “If hospitals need to activate the new beds after exhausting every other option, equipment previously used for the original Nightingale hospitals will be rapidly distributed to them.

“The new Nightingale facilities would take patients who, although not fit for discharge, need minimal support and monitoring while they recover from illness, freeing up regular ward beds to provide care for those with more intensive needs.

“Patients may include those recovering from covid-19 who are no longer infectious and do not need intensive oxygen therapy. The units would be led by hospital consultants and nurses, but with other clinical and non-clinical staff brought in with rapid training to be able to perform routine checks and other tasks.”

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