Royalty and team of North East celebrities including Ant and Dec pay tribute to NHS as Nightingale Hospital North East is officially opened

During a virtual opening ceremony, the 460-bed hospital for Covid-19 patients was officially opened by the Queen’s daughter-in-law, Her Royal Highness the Countess of Wessex.

Her Royal Highness was joined by a team of North East stars including Ant McPartlin and Dec Donnelly who helped open the facility, which is based at The Innovation Centre at the International Advanced Manufacturing Park (IAMP), and pay tribute to the amazing work and dedication of NHS staff across the country.

The official opening followed the news that others elsewhere in the country will be mothballed.

However, NHS chief executive Sir Simon Stevens said the temporary hospital could play a role in convalescence and rehabilitation as the coronavirus pandemic continues.

Speaking via video, the Countess said: “Over 300 diligent pairs of hands have contributed to this facility's construction and many more pairs of hands will care for those who may come to need it.

“This hospital, like the other Nightingale hospitals, demonstrates that when we come together we can achieve great things.

“Sunderland has been close to my heart for some time which is why I’m so pleased to have been invited to be with you. albeit virtually, today.

“Since 2003, when I became patron of Sunderland Football Club's Foundation of Light charity, I've enjoyed many visits to one of our country's friendliest cities and only just over a year ago I had the honour of opening the charity's Beacon of Light complex which is helping so many people.

“And now the Nightingale Hospital will be a beacon of its own. A beacon of care, a beacon of reassurance, of strength, of compassion and of innovation.

“It is a representation of the combined capability of many individuals and organisations as well as a wonderful reflection of Sunderland's industrious spirit.”

In a video beamed into the opening ceremony, Matt Hancock praised the NHS staff, military, contractors and volunteers who turned the site it into a 460-bed hospital in weeks.

He said: "Of course, we all hope that these extra beds will not all have to be used but I know you built this facility in a way that means you can adapt the hospital to changing clinical needs as work through the emergency and into the recovery phase continues."

NHS chief executive Sir Simon Stevens added: "Although it pleasingly looks as though we may be coming through the peak of the number of hospital in-patients, the reality is coronavirus is going to be with us for months if not years to come, so it makes absolute sense to have the buffer capacity in the event it is needed.

"There's no doubt, whether it is for coronavirus patients, or convalescence or rehabilitation or other types of patients, it makes complete sense to have this reserve capacity that the Nightingale Hospitals represent."

It is hoped the hospital, which has 130 intensive care beds, will never see a patient but health chiefs say it is a necessary ‘insurance policy’.

The North East’s very own Ant and Dec helped open the ceremony and shared a message from celebrities and sports stars paying tribute to the NHS.

Dec Donnelly said: “The amazing hospitals and the staff of the NHS in the North East have been pulling out all of the stops in the last few months to cope in these most difficult of times and we hope if and pray that thanks to everybody staying at home, safe distancing and washing their hands that we’ll keep the dreadful affect of this virus to a minimum.”

Ant McPartlin added: “Even if it isn’t needed, it’s been a magnificent feat to pull this together and the speed of the transformation will be an enduring symbol of what the great people of this area are capable of.

“It’s an honour to follow in the footsteps of Captain Tom Moore and be part of opening one of these incredible hospitals. Now Captain Tom Moore, a remarkable centenarian, who has raised so much money for the NHS charities by doing laps of his garden.

The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is operating the hospital because it has world-leading experts in the treatment of infectious diseases and has the frontline medical expertise and the support functions to deliver something of this scale and at this pace.

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