A5 postcard doubling as a reminder of the ImproveWell App to encourage staff to say what works and what does not work with the question "What would make tomorrow better?" and can also be used as a feedback card with NHS Nightingale Hospital London branding, 2020

Launched in 2016, the ImproveWell™ app aims to gather “real-time insight to improve staff experience and the quality of patient care.” It was one way that people working at NHS Nightingale Hospital London suggest improvements or highlight issues as they happened. With staff coming from all across the country and working in a venue normally suited to conferences, shows, and trade fairs, it was essential to gather feedback. The app allows for two way communication between decision makers and people suggesting changes to make changes but also so people know their opinions are being heard.

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, 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.