North East praises 'amazing work' on region's Nightingale Hospital as community backs hopes that facility 'is never used'

The new hospital, which has been built on an industrial unit near Nissan in Washington, is expected to open at the end of this month.

It will have the capacity to treat 460 patients and could have around 2,500 staff working there at its peak.

Speaking on Tuesday, April 14, Martin Wilson, executive lead of NHS Nightingale North East, said: “We’re building this hospital as an insurance policy and hope that it will never be required.”

Here is what you said:

Gemma Errington: “I hope it’s never used but amazing work nonetheless.”

Sheila Harbottle: “Amazing work by everyone involved, hope it never has to be used.”

Gillian Graham: “Pray it’s not needed. But good to know it’s there.”

Gary Curtis: “These NHS staff are risking their lives to save ours.”

Tom Martin: “Well let’s all hope it sits empty and never needs to be used. In this case, empty is definitely better.”

Ray Carrick: “They don’t build a place for nothing.”

Michelle Bastone: “I think all new cases should be sent to this new facility, other than those who have contracted the virus while already in hospital.

“Hopefully that will allow our regular hospitals to start getting back to some sort of normality.”

Mandy Linda Hannard Brown: “I hope we don’t need to use it at all.”

Simon CV: “Hope we are starting to see a flattening and won't need to be used.”

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