NHS Nightingale

[Carrotcakeforbreakfast]

Those on the frontline.

Have you heard much about this?
I have a couple of colleagues called in. They're currently working privately but are heading to London next week.

I'm also hearing mixed things about how it will operate
I've heard it'll be overflow only
And I've also heard that those stable enough will be moved from current hospitals to Nightingale.

This is an interesting read. Decisions are still being made about exactly how it will operate.

www.hsj.co.uk/quality-and-performance/revealed-the-challenges-and-dilemmas-as-nhs-nightingale-prepares-to-open/7027246.article

Will Nurse form other areas of the country be called in do you think?

They are advertising for electricians on my local site to go and help set it up. I read somewhere that nurses are being asked to transfer to London.

I have heard that it will be for those who aren’t well enough to be home but aren’t well enough to be in the major hospitals. It will be interesting to see how it works.

I for one would love to know how I as a senior nurse opt to go. Currently I am about to be redeployed from private to a large NHS hospital. If I had a choice I would prefer Excel.

I find that very reassuring. There are lots of people who will be too ill to be left at home alone, without necessarily needing intense care. I'm glad there will be provision for them.

Will Nurse form other areas of the country be called in do you think?

I except so, but with Birmingham and Manchester primed for mid April (and potentially Newcastle too) I presume they will be looking at staffing Nightingale from SE/SW, & maybe East Anglia?

And then anyone around the midlands will be deployed to Birmingham?

And again, further up from there will go to Newcastle?

Not sure about Wales or Scotland or NI, I suppose decisions are being made by their respective NHS bodies, in conjunction with government?

The pictures are quite scary.

Dont forget that the NHS has lost thousands of beds over the last 30 years something like 145,000 so we are still short and people need beds for all sorts of reasons. Whatever it's used for will go some very small way to relieving the bed pressures. Bringing back 5,000 retired nurses will help but it still leaves us 35,000 short. Such sad times but so many brave and wonderful people out there.

A plan for step downs definitely required though, I’ve heard of care homes refusing to take patients back from hospital, even if they went in for non COVID, due to the risk of contracting it in hospital/potential contamination on clothes or via the people dropping them off, and the need to keep all the other vulnerable residents safe.

Need some halfway residential; accommodation for those who can’t go home, otherwise major bedblocking problem, plus increased risk to the patient who will be needlessly living in amongst an emergency situation.

My friends who have been called to London. One is from Devon, one is from Liverpool.
They are mobile anyway and travel around the country but obviously all the private stuff has stopped.

I'm not sure how you opt in.

I'm Midlands based and we have been told to expect to be called to the NEC if/when that opens.
I'm not a nurse but I am frontline.

Nurses opt in via the nmc if they're retired, do you have a governing body that might know. What is your job.

I'm a radiographer.

As far as we understand so far. They'll be using private radiographers/ military radiographers in the first instance.
Then calling on us if needed

But as it is still in the planning stages we are all hearing different things.
There won't be as many radiographers needed as nurses so I would imagine the private workforce could cover it.

We are having similar in the Principality Stadium in Cardiff
No info on how it will be used yet though

The Principlaity Stadium in Cardiff is also being turned into a hospital.Its the only venue in Wales large enough I think.

Presumably staff from all over wales will be sent there?

I have elderly relatives in west Wales. Tiny local hospital.
They are pretty rural so hopefully they will stay indoors!

No news for staff yet

I am waiting to be redeployed to critical care within the next 14 days

They have invited nurses to apply for the roles - they are looking for ITU, theatre and general nurses. Advert states accommodation will be provided for those coming from outside of London

No accommodation for us in wales
But I live close enough it's fine

Everything is so in limbo right now