THE Nightingale Hospital set up in Yorkshire to deal with Covid-19 patients has been put on notice as the second spike of cases has hit the UK.

The temporary hospital, based in Harrogate, could be called upon to take patients if the capacity of hospitals in the region comes under pressure.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus:

NHS staff will also now be subject to regular testing for the virus, even if they are not displaying any symptoms.

Professor Stephen Powis, from NHS England, made the announcement during a Downing Street briefing this morning.

He said:  “To protect our staff and our patients we will be introducing – with tests provided by the Test and Trace service – regular testing for staff in these high-risk areas, even when they don’t have symptoms.

“This will help us keep staff and patients in those hospitals as safe as possible.

“Secondly, we have asked the Nightingale hospitals in Manchester, Sunderland and Harrogate to prepare for this next phase.

“They are being asked to mobilise over the next few weeks to be ready to accept patients if necessary.”

It will be for local clinicians to decide whether they are used for Covid patients or to provide extra capacity to maintain services for people without coronavirus.

The announcement from Prof. Powis comes before an announcement on new lockdown measures by the Prime Minister this afternoon. Read here about what is expected to be announced in the statement.