Nightingale hospital swings into action in Harrogate – The Yorkshire Post says

'We will offer whatever resources are required' - Harrogate council leader's pledge as NHS confirms Convention Centre will be turned into Nightingale hospital

Now, just over 100 days later, this renowned venue is being transformed into a new Nightingale field hospital to treat victims of the coronavirus pandemic as NHS England takes urgent action to increase bed capacity.

Based on the new-look Excel Centre in London which is now preparing to treat its first patients, The Yorkshire Post is the first to praise those soldiers, paramedics, police officers, firefighters, engineers and others working round-the-clock in this race against time to get the Harrogate facility up and running as quickly as possible.

A military operation, it also exemplifies the close co-operation that has been struck up between local authorities, NHS England and others to ensure that Yorkshire offers the best possible care to all those who have the awful misfortune to be struck down by this illness.

Even though much of this work has been overshadowed by the national response, and Mr Johnson’s leadership at a time of human, social and economic crisis, people here are drawing comfort from the effectiveness of the contingency measures being put in place.

And while there remain concerns about delays to the testing of hospital staff and patients for Covid-19, and also the supply of protective eye equipment for all those social carers still working tirelessly and selflessly in local communities, public appreciation for the NHS has never been greater.

New details emerge as NHS formally announces plans to turn Harrogate Convention Centre into Nightingale hospital in fight against coronavirus

Yes, it is important to place this recognition on the record, but the best thing that the people of Yorkshire can do to support the emergency effort is to continue to heed the latest public health advice – and stay at home – unless they have a very legitimate reason for venturing out.

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