Where is the extra hospital capacity for the north east?

[Kitchendoctor]

Additional capacity is being created in London, Birmingham and Manchester, yet Newcastle Upon Tyne has quite a high number of cases competed to other, much bigger, cities (144, higher than Manchester, Bristol, Leeds, even some areas of London).
Plus other areas close by aren’t far behind, yet I haven’t seen anything about plans to ramp up our bed capacity.
Why is this??

We’re not getting any

Competed? Sorry, compared

I heard they were clearing 2 wards at the rvi (moving patients over to freeman) to be ready a couple of weeks ago. Not sure if true but was a reliable source.

They might be planning to. Cumbria have requested chartered surveyors suggest buildings that could be used, but it hasn’t been reported in the press as yet I don’t think.

Because, as ever, it feels like they don't give a shit about us up here

It's already happened Justyou. But 2 measly wards, yeah that'll do

To be fair it’s because modelling shows the NE will be the last region to be severely affected, so it makes sense to do us last. Newcastle’s figures are fairly high but it’s surrounded by areas with low rates, unlike London boroughs. That means the overall regional capacity is ok at the minute.

A couple of wards have been cleared at the RVI for recovered covid patients.

Some woman was spreading a rumour as fact that Metro Arena was being converted. Utter bollocks

It's probably in progress but can't be announced until it's final

Perhaps the extra capacity is being created in order of where it is needed most, based on the number of cases? It is also dependent on how quickly an extra temporary hospital venue can be sourced, prepared and staffed.

For perspective, if Newcastle is still at 144, that is less than the number of cases just iny borough in London.

My thoughts exactly.
Leeds, Newcastle, Scotland, and everything inbetween. Ignored (again!).

Scotland is creating an overflow hospital in Glasgow, that’s a devolved decision.

Metro arena is probably a pretty good guess. There aren’t that many options for large appropriate sites. I’m sure there will be a planned location in emergency plans.

There are 13 Nightingale Hospitals planned across the UK. they just can’t all be done at once.

For perspective, if Newcastle is still at 144, that is less than the number of cases just iny borough in London.

Newcastle has a comparable population to many individual London boroughs, but the number of Covid-19 cases per 100,000 is greater.

To be fair it’s because modelling shows the NE will be the last region to be severely affected, so it makes sense to do us last.

Yes, that’s based on old pandemic modelling though. The figures aren’t supporting that theory. Cumbria over the way is also even more badly affected.

We’ve just watched a tv show about a month ago (think it’s called Cobra) and it was exactly like JeanJackeys says, Huge emergency and North East the place left out, then we all turned into hooligans

2 extra wards at the RVI! They need the whole hospital!

We’re always forgotten about

I don't know. I would be thankful that you don't need one yet.

Birmingham Airport is getting a mortuary for 12000 bodies

If things get really sticky they'll fly patients down to Birmingham or London where the overflow field hospitals are conveniently right next to runways. RAF have been practising Hercules landings and takeoffs at London City Airport which they are now calling RAF Nightingale

The individual boroughs are surrounded by other equally hard hit boroughs, whereas Newcastle has a bit of space about it.

There are plans for others- they just haven't got there yet.

My husband works in construction. His firm started converting an existing venue into a 500 bed field hospital yesterday and need to deliver it in 10 days. It's just north of Leeds. Sorry to be vague as I don't want this to be outing but we haven't been forgotten about.

We are always ignored by governments. Why are you surprised?

If you look at Newcastle, North and South Tyneside, Gateshead and Sunderland - all small, bordering each other and densely populated, (and then add Northumberland which is large) the current numbers are
Newcastle 186
Gateshead 52
North Tyneside 71
South Tyneside 31
Sunderland 86
Northumberland 67
Borders 63
= 559
And that is ignoring Durham, Middlesborough, Redcar and Cleveland.

But we have smaller numbers apparently.

Leeds is 2.5 hrs from Newcastle.

And that is ignoring Durham, Middlesborough, Redcar and Cleveland.

Figures are still relatively low in those areas.

But, it looks like conversations may be happening about potential sites.

www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/ben-houchen-calls-empty-middlehaven-17999142