"Littlegarth School says Thank You" to people working at NHS Nightingale Hospital London

Bedsheet decorated with handprints, a rainbow and a grass land scene with the word "Littlegarth School says Thank You", made by pupils attending Littlegarth School, Colchester, Essex and displayed in the Clinical Hub room at NHS Nightingale Hospital, London, to inspire staff, give them hope and comfort, made in April 2020, sheet originally made by Jonelle, 100% cotton, made in Great Britain

Hanging on the wall of the Clinical Hub room at NHS Nightingale Hospital London, this large bedsheet was transformed into a message of hope and thanks for staff and volunteers. Rainbow pictures appeared in people’s homes, businesses and places of work often sent in by young people and their grown-ups. There was huge public support for NHS and key workers in recognition of their work. Many key workers lived apart away from loved ones, taking on additional or different roles, stepping in when hospital visiting was limited, all at a time of extreme emotional and physical stress.

The NHS Nightingale Hospital at the ExCel Centre in London was the first of seven Nightingale hospitals to be opened. Extra beds were planned after concerns over the ability of the National Health Service to cope with high numbers of people requiring treatment during the first wave of COVID-19. Drawing on the expertise of creating military field hospitals, NHS Nightingale London, the size of ten football pitches, was fitted out in just nine days. Opened virtually by Prince Charles on 3 April 2020, the hospital had capacity for 4000 beds in wards named after historic figures from British medical history. Staff were drawn from across NHS England and the armed services for their expertise including critical care, physiotherapy, mental health support for staff and volunteers, security, and Family Liaison and Support Teams. Volunteers from St John Ambulance and air crew from Virgin Atlantic and Easyjet helped with way finding and assisting staff.

Only a small proportion of beds were ever used as NHS Trusts could not release staff. Existing hospitals transformed spaces into critical care wards. The NHS Nightingale London Hospital closed on Nurses Day on 12 May 2020 with 700 people debriefed at the 02. In January 2021, it reopened to treat non-coronavirus patients after being on standby since May 2020. Between 11 January 2021 and 25 June 2021, it was a mass vaccination centre, delivering 130,000 jabs. For both uses it was overseen by Barts Health Trust. Described by the NHS as the “ultimate insurance policy”, some questioned the £500 million cost of building and maintaining the seven sites.