Nightingale hospitals treating fewer than 30 patients – despite recent rise in hospital admissions

Nightingale hospitals are treating fewer than 30 patients and only one of the seven facilities across England is open – despite the recent rise in Covid hospital admissions

  • Nightingale in Manchester caring for few dozen patients who now test negative
  • Nightingales in Sunderland and Harrogate were asked to be ready for patients
  • On Friday there were 13,328 people in hospital with Covid – 1,158 on ventilators

Fewer than 30 people are currently being treated in Nightingale hospitals, despite the recent rise in Covid-19 hospital admissions.

Only one of the seven facilities across the country is open, with two more ‘ready to take patients’ if needed.

The 750-bed Nightingale in Manchester is caring for a few dozen patients who have now tested negative for the coronavirus but are in need of step-down care after a stay in hospital. 

Fewer than 30 people are currently being treated in Nightingale hospitals, despite the recent rise in Covid-19 hospital admissions (staff at the Nightingale hospital in Sunderland, pictured)

The Nightingale hospitals in Sunderland and Harrogate have been asked to be ready for patients.

On Friday, there were 13,328 people in hospital with Covid, including 1,158 on ventilators.

The 750-bed Nightingale in Manchester (pictured above), North West England, is caring for a few dozen patients who have now tested negative for the coronavirus

The 750-bed Nightingale in Manchester (pictured above), North West England, is caring for a few dozen patients who have now tested negative for the coronavirus

In the first wave of the pandemic, seven Nightingale hospitals were built at a cost of £220 million.

The NHS was, however, largely able to cope so only two were used, with around 200 people treated.

There has been speculation that the Nightingales could be used as centres to provide vaccinations.