As the cases of COVID-19 coronavirus increase in the UK, one of the main issues the government is facing is whether our NHS can support the mass influx of patients into hospitals and medical centres that will inevitably occur within a few days of each other nationwide. This is the single biggest health challenge our country has faced in generations and the governments' calculations have confirmed that at the estimated peak of the pandemic in the UK the NHS would almost certainly become overwhelmed. This will potentially lead to many patients being left uncared for in their time of need and may result in higher fatality rates.
“The calculations confirmed that at the estimated peak of the pandemic in the UK the NHS would almost certainly become overwhelmed”
The government concluded that we need more facilities and more NHS workers to support patients and combat the steep rise in COVID-19 cases. Amazingly thousands of ex-NHS staff have been re-recruited to help out during the crisis which truly shows the unbelievably caring nature of all our NHS staff past and present. We can count ourselves truly fortunate that we live in a country that has heroes like these that are always on hand to care for us when we need them the most.
“thousands of volunteers from the construction industry including builders, plumbers, electricians, carpenters, and security professionals have come together to offer their services”
In another truly amazing story of collaboration and innovation; thousands of volunteers from the construction industry including builders, plumbers, electricians, carpenters, and security professionals have come together to offer their services for free and work collectively as a team to build a 4000-bed capacity single purpose hospital called the Nightingale Hospital. Its sole purpose will be to care for those unfortunate ones who contract the COVID-19 virus.
Designed by Army medics and senior NHS staff the Nightingale hospital is located in the London Excel exhibition centre lending itself perfectly to the layout required to maximise the space making it easier to fill to capacity.
View the architects plan of the 88,000 square meter building.
The speed in which this new hospital is being built is simply awe-inspiring. Incredibly in just 10 Days a 500-bed section of the hospital is complete and ready to receive its first patients, the rest of the hospital build is estimated to be complete in just a few days’ time.
“merchants, manufacturers, suppliers, and locks and security professionals turn their efforts into providing crucial supplies and services across the country”
We’ve seen merchants, manufacturers, suppliers, and locks and security professionals turn their efforts into providing crucial supplies and services across the country and to the Nightingale Hospital project. Not only are these workers volunteering their time and expertise, but they are also doing it by potentially putting themselves in harm’s way which makes their commitment to the cause even more remarkable.
The Nightingale Hospital in London is a huge build and as we understand required security fittings for 175 internal fire doors and 6 emergency exit doors.
That’s 175 internal fire doors consisting of:
- 175 fire rated door closers
- 525 fire rated interior door hinges
- 175 fire rated euro mortice locks
- 175 fire rated euro cylinders
- 350 fire rated euro escutcheons.
- 175 complete sets of intumescent for doors and applications
- 175 sets of smoke seals
- 350 door signs
- 350 pull handles
- 350 finger plates
Additional fire safety will also have been installed at various planned locations within the Nightingale Hospital including; fire extinguishers, Fire blankets, flame retardant document wallets, and smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
For more information on what you need to check to properly install a fire door to British Standards and fire ratings, read our 5 Step Fire Door Check article outlining the vital checks and preparation you’ll need to install and fix fire doors.
At least 6 emergency exit doors in the Nightingale Hospital have been prepared with the proper panic hardware devices that allow safe and efficient exit from the building in an emergency. Briton panic hardware and Union panic hardware were installed in key exit locations across the 88,000-square-meter unit.
If you are working on an emergency build and it requires the installation of panic hardware, depending on the premises and the capacity of the building you may need to install:
- Single door panic bars
- Single door push bars with vertical bolts
- Single door push pads with vertical bars
- Double door panic bars
- Touch bars
- Outside access devices
To find out a bit more about the types of panic hardware available, view our article A guide to panic hardware.
"Duffells are a trade-only supplier to the locks and security industry..."
As we currently understand there are plans being considered to build 3 more similar crisis centre medical facilities located in Birmingham, Manchester, and Glasgow.
Remember if you need supplies from Duffells for a hospital or medical centre project, Duffells is a trade-only supplier to the locks and security industry just make sure you put ‘Urgent-Medical’ in the delivery instructions at checkout so that we can prioritise your order.
We encourage everyone who reads this to follow the government guidelines, stay at home and only go out if absolutely necessary. If you need to go out make sure you follow the social distancing guidelines, keep your hands clean, and keep yourselves safe.
Let us know in the comments below if you and your business are supporting the NHS builds no matter how big or small your contribution is, it’s all going to make a massive impact collectively.