Why is England building temporary hospitals again?

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England is building temporary “surge hubs” to handle rising COVID-19 hospital pressure driven by Omicron cases
England is building temporary hospitals, known as “surge hubs,” to cope with rising coronavirus cases that are increasing hospital admissions. Officials said the hubs are meant to manage a potential overspill of inpatients as the National Health Service is put on a “war footing,” with daily cases fuelled by the highly contagious Omicron variant reaching more than 189,000 on Thursday. NHS England said the extra beds are being added from this week to free up space and staff in nearby hospitals so they can treat large numbers of virus cases.
Daily case surge and rising hospital admissions are straining capacity
The situation is being driven by a rapid rise in infections, with daily COVID-19 cases reported at more than 189,000 on Thursday. At the same time, increasing hospital admissions are contributing to pressure on the health system. National Medical Director Stephen Powis said the NHS is now on a “war footing” given the high level of infections and admissions.
The hubs are designed for inpatient overspill and to relieve adjacent hospitals
Officials described the “surge hubs” as a response to a potential overspill of inpatients. NHS England will provide extra beds in structures in the grounds of eight hospitals, including in cities such as London, Bristol and Leeds, with each hub designed to house around 100 extra patients. The beds are intended for patients recovering from illnesses, including those who no longer have COVID, so that space and staff in adjacent hospitals can be used to treat large numbers of virus cases.
The government’s “super-surge beds” plan targets up to 4,000 extra beds
The government plans to make available as many as 4,000 “super-surge beds.” In some cases, the plan involves using existing hospital facilities such as gyms or education centres rather than building entirely new sites. Officials also noted concerns about staffing, with medics warning of rising staff shortages due to people being off sick or self-isolating because of the virus.
The timing is linked to the current wave and the need for additional beds “from this week”
NHS England said the extra beds in the grounds of eight hospitals would be provided from this week. Workers were already putting up metal framework at a new unit outside St George’s Hospital in Tooting in south London, which illustrates the rapid rollout during the surge period. The overall aim is to ensure there is additional inpatient capacity while case numbers remain high.

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Why is England building temporary hospitals again?

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