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Coronavirus: Nightingale Hospital opening at London's ExCel centre Coronavirus: Nightingale Hospital opens at London's ExCel centre
(32 minutes later)
The first of the government's emergency field hospitals to treat coronavirus patients is opening in east London's ExCel centre. The first of the government's emergency field hospitals to treat coronavirus patients has opened in east London's ExCel centre.
The temporary NHS Nightingale Hospital will be able to hold as many as 4,000 patients and be staffed by NHS medics with help from the military. The temporary NHS Nightingale Hospital is able to hold as many as 4,000 patients and will be staffed by NHS medics with help from the military.
Prince Charles is officially opening the hospital via video link. Prince Charles paid tribute to staff as he opened the hospital via video link.
Similar hospitals are planned for Belfast, Cardiff, Glasgow, Birmingham, Manchester, Harrogate and Bristol. Similar hospitals are planned across the UK, including in Cardiff, Glasgow, Manchester, Harrogate and Bristol.
The ExCel exhibition space - usually used for large events such as Crufts and Comic Con - has been transformed into a hospital in just 10 days. The ExCel exhibition space - usually used for large events such as Crufts and Comic Con - was transformed into a hospital in just 10 days.
It is the first of several Nightingale Hospitals planned in England, with latest two to be announced to be built at the University of the West of England in Bristol and the Harrogate Convention Centre. It is the first of several Nightingale Hospitals planned in England, with the latest announcement that two will be built at the University of the West of England in Bristol and the Harrogate Convention Centre.
Others are due to open at Birmingham's National Exhibition Centre and Manchester's Central Complex.Others are due to open at Birmingham's National Exhibition Centre and Manchester's Central Complex.
In Wales, more than 6,000 extra beds are being set up in temporary hospitals - many in sports and leisure facilities, including Cardiff's Principality Stadium.In Wales, more than 6,000 extra beds are being set up in temporary hospitals - many in sports and leisure facilities, including Cardiff's Principality Stadium.
And in Scotland, a temporary hospital is being built at Glasgow's Scottish Events Campus (SEC). It could have capacity for as many as 1,000 beds and will be named the NHS Louisa Jordan after a nurse who served in Serbia during World War One. In Scotland, a temporary hospital is being built at Glasgow's Scottish Events Campus (SEC). It could have capacity for as many as 1,000 beds and will be named the NHS Louisa Jordan after a nurse who served in Serbia during World War One.
And Belfast City Hospital's tower block will become Northern Ireland's first Nightingale hospital with 230 beds.
Prince Charles officially opened the new hospital with a message paying tribute to NHS staff via video link from his home on the royal Balmoral estate in Scotland.
Speaking following seven days of self-isolation after being diagnosed with the virus, he called it "a spectacular and almost unbelievable feat of work".
It shows "how the impossible could be made possible and how we can achieve the unthinkable through human will and ingenuity," he added, saying: "In this dark time, this place will be a shining light."
London's Nightingale hospital initially has 500 beds in place, with space for another 3,500. It will care for patients with the virus in intensive care who have been transferred from other London hospitals.London's Nightingale hospital initially has 500 beds in place, with space for another 3,500. It will care for patients with the virus in intensive care who have been transferred from other London hospitals.
Staff from across the NHS will be working there, including student nurses, medical students who have started work early and former doctors, nurses and other staff who have come out of retirement.Staff from across the NHS will be working there, including student nurses, medical students who have started work early and former doctors, nurses and other staff who have come out of retirement.
Prince Charles is officially opening the new hospital with a message paying tribute to NHS staff via video-link from his home on the royal Balmoral estate in Scotland. Also at the ceremony was Health Secretary Matt Hancock - who also recently came out of quarantine after having the virus - as well as England's chief nursing officer, Ruth May, and the head of NHS Nightingale, Prof Charles Knight.
He came out of seven days of self-isolation earlier this week, after being diagnosed with the virus. Ms May said it was "absolutely fitting" that the hospital was named after Florence Nightingale, who was an "iconic nursing leader of her time" and a "pioneer for infection control".
Attending the ceremony in person is Health Secretary Matt Hancock - who also recently came out of quarantine after having the virus - as well as England's chief nursing officer, Ruth May, and the head of NHS Nightingale, Prof Charles Knight. Mr Hancock said the hospital showed "the best of the NHS" and "the best of Britain".
Representatives from the Ministry of Defence, contractors and volunteers will also be there. According to the latest figures, 2,921 people in the UK have died with the virus. The total is up by 569 from 2,352 the day before, which was the biggest day-on-day increase so far.
"The NHS and the military have achieved something extraordinary in setting up NHS Nightingale, London, in only a matter of days," said Mr Hancock.
"It is testament to their hard work and dedication that an additional four hospitals will be rolled out across the nation."
The Nightingale hospitals are named after nurse Florence Nightingale.
According to the latest figures, 2,921 people with the virus in the UK have died. The total is up by 569 from 2,352 the day before and is the biggest day-on-day increase so far.
Earlier, amid controversy over the roll-out of testing for coronavirus in the UK, Mr Hancock said the government had "a huge amount of work to do" to meet its target of 100,000 tests a day in England by the end of April.Earlier, amid controversy over the roll-out of testing for coronavirus in the UK, Mr Hancock said the government had "a huge amount of work to do" to meet its target of 100,000 tests a day in England by the end of April.
"It's got to happen. I've got a plan to get us there, I've set it as a goal and it's what the nation needs," he said."It's got to happen. I've got a plan to get us there, I've set it as a goal and it's what the nation needs," he said.
The 100,000 could include both swab tests, that check if someone has the virus, and antibody blood tests, to check if someone has had the virus recently - but which have not yet come into widespread use.The 100,000 could include both swab tests, that check if someone has the virus, and antibody blood tests, to check if someone has had the virus recently - but which have not yet come into widespread use.
Labour has called for more details on the plan, with shadow chancellor John McDonnell telling BBC Breakfast a breakdown of the type of tests that would make up the 100,000 target was needed.Labour has called for more details on the plan, with shadow chancellor John McDonnell telling BBC Breakfast a breakdown of the type of tests that would make up the 100,000 target was needed.
Mr Hancock said he was not relying on new antibody blood tests to meet the goal.Mr Hancock said he was not relying on new antibody blood tests to meet the goal.
It was possible almost all of them would be swab tests used to determine whether a person currently had coronavirus, he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.It was possible almost all of them would be swab tests used to determine whether a person currently had coronavirus, he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.
There has been growing pressure from frontline NHS staff for the government to make more swab tests available to medics and their families. so key staff who are healthy but currently in self-isolation can return to work.
Mr Hancock said 35,000 NHS staff were currently off work because they or a member of their household had had coronavirus symptoms.
On Wednesday, there was capacity for 12,799 daily tests in England - although just 10,650 people were tested. The government's target by mid-April had been to test 25,000 per day.On Wednesday, there was capacity for 12,799 daily tests in England - although just 10,650 people were tested. The government's target by mid-April had been to test 25,000 per day.
In other developments:In other developments: