Nightingale hospitals to remain on standby ready for a second spike

The Nightingale field hospitals which were built by the military are to remain open over the winter Downing Street has confirmed on Thursday.

The hospitals have been largely been unused over the last three months, but they remain an important element in preventing the NHS from being overwhelmed should there be a second spike in virus cases.

A Downing Street spokesman said on Thursday, “We may still need Nightingale hospitals for the months ahead. We will maintain that extra capacity until such time as there is more certainty.

“We have always viewed the Nightingale hospitals as providing an important surge capacity.

“They are not required at the moment, but they are still there and available to treat patients should that be required. We view it as an important capacity to have.”

Last week the Prime Minister Boris Johnson was warned to prepare to plan for a second wave of coronavirus, as there will be a resurgence of the virus, which cause an inevitable second lockdown.

Over the weekend tens of thousands of people have been protesting over the George Floyd death in the US, defying the governments advice not to gather in large groups.

Professor Hugh Montgomery of UCL Intensive Care Medicine, warned that Brits could cause a “massive” second coronavirus wave.

Keith Neal, Nottingham University’s emeritus professor of the epidemiology of infectious diseases warned “Any mass gathering risks significant numbers of further cases.

“There is clear evidence that banning mass gatherings was one of the most effective and important parts of the lockdowns across European countries.”