Covid: Nightingale ‘surge hubs’ to be set up as NHS goes on ‘war footing’ against Omicron

The NHS is on a 'war footing' to prepare for a wave of Omicron hospital admissions

A number of new Nightingale "surge hubs" are to be set up around England as the NHS anticipates a surge of covid hospital admissions in the new year. Eight locations will be set up according to NHS England, each with the capacity to treat 100 patients. Work will begin on them this week. More sites have been identified that could house another 4,000 "super surge" beds. The hubs will be used to look after those who are not well enough to go home from hospital but need minimal supervision during their covid-19 recovery. Currently, hospitals are using hotels and care homes to safely discharge patients and free up hospital beds. NHS national medical director Professor Stephen Powis said: "Given the high level of COVID-19 infections and increasing hospital admissions, the NHS is now on a war footing. "We do not yet know exactly how many of those who catch the virus will need hospital treatment, but given the number of infections we cannot wait to find out before we act and so work is beginning from today to ensure these facilities are in place.