The 460-bed hospital, based near Nissan’s Washington plant, will only start taking patients if the region’s hospitals are unable to cope with a potential surge of Covid-19 cases which require hospital treatment.
It has now been transformed into a 20-ward hospital, including eight intensive care wards, and gives the North East the capacity to care for another 460 coronavirus patients if hospitals are filled.
As it officially opens we take a look inside.
9. Opening of the NHS Nightingale Hospital North East
The 460-bed hospital is in an industrial unit bigger than a football pitch. | JPIMedia Photo: Stu Norton
10. Opening of the NHS Nightingale Hospital North East
Martin Wilson, executive lead of NHS Nightingale North East, said the facility is an ‘insurance policy’ and everyone hopes that it will never be required. | JPIMedia Photo: Stu Norton
11. Opening of the NHS Nightingale Hospital North East
The hospital was opened by way of a virtual ceremony attended only by members of Team Northumbria, the NHS staff, businesses and organisations who have transformed the building. | JPIMedia Photo: Stu Norton
12. Opening of the NHS Nightingale Hospital North East
North East celebrities including Ant & Dec, Alan Shearer and Brendan Foster were among those showing their support for the hospital during the opening ceremony. | JPIMedia Photo: Stu Norton