MP claims insufficient medics
Exeter MP Ben Bradshaw has told the health secretary that the region's NHS Nightingale Hospital at Sowton can't take inpatients because not enough medical staff are available to run it.
Ben Bradshaw used a session in the House of Commons on Tuesday to raise a question with Matt Hancock. Mr Bradshsaw says the local NHS would like to use the temporary facility, built to treat a surge in covid-19 patients should there be one, to look after other inpatients.
Mr Hancock batted away the question, saying the government has increased the number of nurses nationally by 13,000 in the last year. He continued: "The NHS Nightingale Hospitals are incredibly important as additional surge capacity....but that surge is not something we want to put in place unless we have to."
He added: "It is better for both patients and staff if people can be treated in existing hospitals,"
Exeter's Nightingale Hospital, built at a former DIY warehouse, has 116 beds. The NHS says: "As well as treating the sickest patients, Nightingale Exeter can also be used for patients with less severe problems associated with COVID-19 and for those recovering after a period in hospital. It also provides extra capacity so that the existing five hospitals in the region can continue to operate other essential clinical services."
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