This is what you need to know about Harrogate Convention Centre's transformation into a NHS Nightingale hospital - as well as other emergency sites in England

Now, work is well underway at the newly-named NHS Nightingale site which is rapidly creating hundreds of beds to cope with patients affected by Covid-19.

The operation has seen a wave of military personnel and private construction companies drafted into the town as conversion works at the almost 150,000 sq ft venue forges ahead, ready for doctors, nursers and volunteers to move in.

The Convention Centre - usually used for shows and arts events - is the fourth facility in England to be chosen as an emergency hospital, with sites in harder-hit areas of the country almost ready to take their first patients.

The ExCeL conference centre in East London was the first venue to be announced and will have between 4,000 and 5,000 beds when it opens later this week.

Thousands of EasyJet and Virgin airline staff in the area are being offered work at the hospital. The NHS said the workers would be changing beds, performing other non-clinical tasks and helping doctors and nurses working.

Hundreds of St John Ambulance volunteers are also preparing to help at the hospital.

The nearby London City Airport has halted all commercial flights - and the airfield will be offered to the government "to help with the national effort" against coronavirus.

London patients in need of intensive care but with the best chance of survival will be taken to the Nightingale hospital, whilst anyone with a serious underlying health condition – such as a heart, kidney or vascular problem – will go to one of the city’s district general or teaching hospitals.

London’s coronavirus cases continue to be well above that in the rest of the country, recording around a third of the overall deaths so far.

First look as Harrogate Convention Centre is turned into NHS Nightingale hospital

The National Exhibition Centre (NEC) in Birmingham is also being converted to help the country cope with the coronavirus crisis.

It will have capacity for 5,000 beds and will be ready in mid-April.

When it was announced, Sir Simon Stevens, the head of the NHS in England, told the daily news briefing on Friday, March 27 "the NHS is making an extraordinary effort."

The nearby Birmingham Airport will become a mortuary in order to cope with the increased demand. The airport is providing a hangar and land on the cargo terminal, across the landing strip from the passenger terminal.

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The Manchester Central Complex was the third facility to be announced as a makeshift hospital.

Sir Simon Stevens confirmed that the venue would provide up to 500 beds but could expand further to 1,000 for patients across the North West.

It is also expected that the facility will cater for less life-threatening cases of the virus, with more severe cases to be treated in existing hospital facilities.

Sir Richard Leese, leader of Manchester City Council, said in a statement: "The need to establish this new hospital underlines the serious nature of the Covid-19 pandemic we all face but also shows how seriously it is being responded to and I hope the public are reassured by the swiftness of this action.”

NHS England said other sites across country also under consideration.

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