Now gyms could be turned into field hospitals: David Lloyd health club chain in talks with government to convert its largest centres into emergency medical facilities
- The chain is in talks with Government about converting ‘handful’ of its big gyms
- They will be emergency medical facilities to stop the NHS getting overwhelmed
- The clubs are not currently in use as the PM has ordered gyms to shut their doors
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David Lloyd health clubs could be turned into emergency hospitals in response to the Covid-19 outbreak.
The chain is in talks with the Government about converting a ‘handful’ of its largest gyms into emergency medical facilities to stop the NHS getting overwhelmed.
The clubs are not currently in use after Prime Minister Boris Johnson ordered leisure centres and gyms to shut their doors during the coronavirus lockdown.
The chain is in talks with the Government about converting a ‘handful’ of its largest gyms into emergency medical facilities to stop the NHS getting overwhelmed
A spokesman for the fitness group confirmed discussions were under way.
It comes after photos revealed the inside of the ExCel centre in London, which is being made into a temporary hospital with two 2,000-person wards to aid the health service’s response.
The NHS will build more temporary hospitals in Birmingham, Manchester, Cardiff and Scotland.
Incredible images from inside the ExCel Centre show construction work to transform the exhibition centre into London’s emergency coronavirus hospital is underway
The National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham will add an initial 500 beds, with the potential to grow to 2,000 if necessary.
Manchester Central Convention Complex will add 500 more, with the capacity to expand to 1,000, and Cardiff’s Principality Stadium will provide up to 2,000 more.
Efforts are under way to source the doctors, nurses and non-clinical workers to staff the huge units.
The National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham will add an initial 500 beds, with the potential to grow to 2,000 if necessary