The Duchess of Cornwall today described Britain’s latest Nightingale Hospital in Manchester as bringing ‘light to a dark time’ at its official opening today.
The NHS Nightingale Hospital North West at the Manchester Central Convention Centre has already started treating coronavirus patients from the region.
Speaking in a video from her Scottish home at Birkhall, Camilla said: ‘In creating this Nightingale hospital, you have truly brought light to a dark time. But this is not surprising. Manchester is a past master at bringing light to dark times.
‘After all, this is not the first time you have shown the world what it is to meet a great challenge with even greater resolve.
‘My husband and I visited Manchester in 2017, shortly after the terrible bombing, and were deeply moved and inspired by the city’s courage and unity.’
The Duchess added that it was ‘difficult to comprehend the skill and astonishing speed with which this hospital has been completed’.
The third Nightingale hospital to open, after others in London and Birmingham, will provide oxygen therapy and general medical care to those not needing critical care.
There are four other Nightingales currently being constructed in Britain, which are in Harrogate, North Yorkshire; Washington, Tyne and Wear; Exeter, Devon; and Bristol.
Medical staff are trained on how to put on and remove personal protective equipment at the Nightingale Hospital North West in the Manchester Central Convention Complex yesterday
Beds are pictured on a ward at the Nightingale Hospital North West in Manchester yesterday
Camilla follows Prince William, who opened the site in Birmingham yesterday, and her husband Prince Charles, who opened the London hospital a fortnight ago.
Today, Camilla thanked the NHS, military, social services, planners, builders and technicians who were involved in getting the temporary hospital up and running, as well as the staff who will work there.
She added: ‘We all feel the deepest admiration for the single-minded dedication that has created the NHS Nightingale North West Hospital, and the way all efforts have been directed to one object: caring for those who contract Covid-19.
‘This gives us the hope and the confidence that the virus will be defeated.’
Staff are told how to put on and remove PPE at the Nightingale Hospital North West yesterday
The new NHS Nightingale Hospital at the Manchester Central Convention Complex yesterday
A sign in the Nightingale Hospital North West yesterday reminding people to socially distance
Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham said: ‘The opening of the Nightingale North West in the heart of Manchester is an amazing achievement and my sincere thanks go to all those in Greater Manchester and beyond who have worked night and day to make it a reality – from construction, logistics, cleaners, fire, police and military staff to medical expertise. You truly are the best of Britain.
‘If the rules allowed, I would be at the door to shake the hand of each and every member of staff for the care you are about to give and for the work you are doing.’
The hospital, which was built in two weeks, is one of seven being built around the country as part of the NHS effort to respond to the pandemic.
Medical staff receive training on how to put on and remove PPE at the Nightingale yesterday
A member of staff dons his personal protective equipment at the site in Manchester yesterday
Chief executive of NHS Nightingale Hospital North West Michael McCourt said: ‘Building this hospital in just a couple of weeks has taken the determination and boundless energy of people from many organisations who have come together to ensure our NHS has the necessary capacity during the pandemic, in what is an unprecedented response to an unprecedented crisis. ‘
He said there were enough critical care beds in the region to meet expected peak demand and the Nightingale would provide additional capacity for lower-level care.
Initially 36 beds will be available, but the hospital could treat up to 750 patients.
Mr Hancock said: ‘It is exceptional to witness how quickly a brilliant team of NHS clinicians, military planners, construction workers and engineers have joined forces to build and equip a third NHS Nightingale, this time in Manchester, in less than three weeks.
Clinicians practise treating a patient in cardiac arrest (played by a ward nurse) on Ward 7 of the Nightingale North West Hospital on Wednesday
Clinicians run through the new hospital as they role play treating a patient on Wednesday
A worker bee, the symbol of Manchester is seen painted onto the floor with the message ‘Thank You NHS’ outside the new Nightingale North West Hospital in the city on Tuesday
‘A huge thank you to all of the team, to everyone who has rallied round and made this hospital a reality, but also to all those who will be soon be running the hospital and making sure everyone in Manchester and the wider region receives the care they need.
‘We all have a role to play in beating this disease and we must continue to stay at home, protect the NHS and save lives.’
Leader of Manchester City Council Sir Richard Leese added: ‘Of course we hope as few of the 750 beds will be needed as possible, but we should take reassurance that the resource is there to help ease the pressure on our hospitals as we tackle the Covid-19 outbreak.
‘A heartfelt thank you must go to those who have made this transformation possible, and to those who will help care for people in Manchester in the coming weeks.’
The Duke of Cambridge spoke via videolink as he officially opened the NHS Nightingale Hospital Birmingham, in the National Exhibition Centre yesterday
Camilla’s husband Prince Charles opened the NHS Nightingale Hospital at the ExCel Centre in East London via videolink from his Scottish home at Birkhall a fortnight ago on April 3
Yesterday, Prince William praised the ‘Herculean’ effort to build Birmingham’s new Nightingale Hospital as he officially opened the facility via video link yesterday.
He also thanked NHS workers’ for their ‘selfless commitment’ and said the temporary field hospital – built inside the NEC exhibition centre in just eight days – was a ‘wonderful example’ of the ‘pulling together’ going on up and down the UK amid the Covid-19 outbreak.
The future king – who undertook his first remote official opening from his Norfolk home because of social distancing rules – said he was happy to be attending ‘in digital spirit at least’ and later joined in with a clap for carers.
Personally recognising the hard-working staff who had made the project a reality, he emphasised: ‘Hospitals are about the people and not the bricks’.