The new facility is one of seven Nightingale hospitals which have been set up in the UK to help respond to the national COVID-19 crisis and cope with surplus demand as a result of the virus. The hospital, which is based at University of West of England Frenchay campus, is equipped to provide up to 300 intensive care beds for coronavirus patients, and cater for anywhere from 300 to 1,300 NHS staff, if local services need them.
When the Bristol Calor centre team was approached by project managers, Richmond Events, they jumped at the chance to help out, and provided 24 propane cylinders to power the 110 showers in the Staff Village on site.
Mike Kay, Calor’s Bristol Site Leader said: “We are extremely humbled and honoured to have been involved in such a worthy project. The work which was carried out to get this hospital up and running within 23 days was an incredible testament to the strength of our NHS and all of the teams involved, and we are proud to have been able to help out in some small way.”
Brian Johnson, Director of Estates, NHS Nightingale Hospital Bristol commented: “Providing the best patient care to help save as many lives as possible is absolutely critical, and we can only do that if all of our staff are cared for equally as well. It’s vital that our staff also feel looked after, which is why our staff village features catering, ‘cool areas’ and showers to allow them to relax, wash and change after a busy shift. We also have mental health and wellbeing services on site to help support them.”
The hospital, which has been built as a surge facility, has thankfully to date remained vacant.
Brian Johnson from NHS Nightingale Hospital Bristol added: “We can’t thank all of the teams and volunteers who have been involved in this project enough. We are hoping that we will not be needed, but if and when we are, we will be ready to care with compassion.”
NHS Nightingale Bristol was officially, virtually opened by the Earl of Wessex on the 27 April.
This latest donation from Calor follows the gifting of 12 cylinders of LPG by Truro Calor centre, to Coast2Coast Motorhome Hire in Cornwall, to help house local NHS staff in need of a place to safely self-isolate.
}
}
}
}
}
}
}
}