THE NEW Nightingale Hospital built in a record nine days is preparing for a horrifying death rate of 1 in 5 patients, new plans show.
Only the younger and fitter patients needing critical treatment will be directed to the Nightingale, but they will still be facing terrible odds of survival.
⚠️ Read our coronavirus live blog for the latest news & updates
Leaked documents show the Nightingale is expecting that "approximately 16-20 per cent of patients who arrive at Nightingale might not survive", according to the Health Service Journal.
The new 4,000 bed NHS hospital at the Excel Centre is expected to take patients who have already been assessed at other hospitals, and judged to be in less immediate risk than those rushed into intensive care units.
Patients who have other complex conditions or are deemed more frail by clinical standards will be cared for in established NHS hospitals with more extensive facilities than the Nightingale.
The shocking death rates are in comparison to a national audit of 165 intensive care units which showed around 48 per cent of patients died.
At the time the audit was done, 609 patients were still being treated.
The plans also show health officials are concerned about using staff who have limited training.
Draft clinical models show around 60 ambulance will be needed for emergency transfers to the Nightingale, and officials are worried about availability.
The documents have also warned communication at the hospital could be a problem because of poor acoustics and an unfamiliar setting NHS workers have not dealt with before.
The huge convention centre is usually used for trade fairs and exhibitions.
The documents said "communications within the intensive care will require particular attention",
They also said the aim of the facility was to reduce deaths, be part of the wider London critical care system, and to "provide hope" to the public.
Many of the London hospitals are already close to capacity, and one came frighteningly close to running out of oxygen supplies.
The number of confirmed cases of coronavirus has continued to skyrocket, and London has one of the worst outbreaks.
The new hospital will need a massive workforce of up to 16,000 staff in clinical and ancillary roles to keep it running.
Hundreds of volunteers from the St John Ambulance charity with various levels of clinical training will help at the facility – with around 100 to work every shift.
NHS England has announced two more Nightingale hospitals will be opened in Bristol and Harrogate.
The two new sites will be at the University of the West of England and the Harrogate Convention Centre.
The Bristol hospital will have capacity for around 1,000 patients and Harrogate will be able to look after up to 500.
Other hospitals are due to be opened at Birmingham's National Exhibition Centre and Manchester's Central Complex.
CORONAVIRUS CRISIS – STAY IN THE KNOW
Don't miss the latest news and figures – and essential advice for you and your family.
To receive The Sun's Coronavirus newsletter in your inbox every tea time, sign up here.
To follow us on Facebook, simply 'Like' our Coronavirus page.
Get Britain's best-selling newspaper delivered to your smartphone or tablet each day – find out more.
Source: Read Full Article