The British Army have begun transforming 3 buildings into new wards at St Mary’s Hospital in Newport to create an additional 200 beds.
A detachment of 40 men and women from the Scots Guards arrived on the Island on Saturday night, as exclusively revealed by Island Echo. This is as part of the national planned mutual aid arrangements for military support for major incidents.
The soldiers’ role is to support the Isle of Wight NHS Trust’s Estates Department in implementing its plans to reconfigure large parts of the hospital so more beds will be available.
The troops will be transforming the Laidlaw Day Hospital, the Education Centre and the Outpatients Appointments and Records Unit into in-patient accommodation.
A meeting was held between the Isle of Wight Council, the Isle of Wight NHS Trust, Bob Seely MP and the Army early this morning.
Maggie Oldham, Chief Executive of the Isle of Wight NHS Trust, said:
“It’s no secret that across the NHS, and certainly here on the Island, people have been working very hard to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and under extraordinary pressure.
Article continues below this advertisement “Our teams at the hospital and in our ambulance, community and mental health services have risen to the challenges of the last few weeks and we are hugely grateful for their hard work. But we know there is more work to come and we are doing everything we possibly can to be ready.
“I am glad to welcome the Scots Guards to help us bring in 200 new beds to our hospital site. Having these brave men and women working alongside us will give us the extra support we need to get this huge amount of work done as quickly as possible.”
Dave Stewart, Leader of the Isle of Wight Council said:
“It is comforting to know that we now have the military’s aid for the plans we have to support our community throughout these unprecedented times.
“However, we should never lose sight of the fact that if everyone takes responsibility for their own actions and follows the very clear advice for social distancing and self-isolation, then we can slow down the spread of the virus.
“We should stay at home, protect the NHS and save lives.”
There are 25 confirmed cases of coronavirus on the Isle of Wight. Of those cases, 4 people have sadly died but 5 people have been discharged from hospital.
A number of refrigeration units have been shipped to the Island to act as a temporary mortuary, should the need arise.
Let’s hope those refrigeration units remain EMPTY…
Duane, yes I hope they remain empty also. Let it be said, they will not be needed for bodies IF islanders follow instructions, stay indoors, only go outside for food shopping, collecting medicines and key worker responsibilities
Yeah until their shift is over and they pop a 4 pack of Fosters in there for a chill brew 😉
Nice to see the army here to help us….. lets hope they don’t get any parking fines on there vehicles.
And to Maggie Oldham there, I hope ALL your staff have proper masks now.
Be under no illusion, they are here to maintain order if (when) the police get overwhelmed.
Their arrival yesterday just in time for Matt Hancock’s threat of tighter lockdown measures cannot be a coincidence.
It’s great that they’re going to be working on the new wards but let’s be realistic, skilled tradesmen such as builders, carpenters, electricians, plumbers and decorators (like the ones we already have over here) are needed to build hospital wards, not armed squaddies imported from the mainland.
It was mainly the army that built the new Nightingale hospital at the excel centre, because their combined skills cover all trades.
The way people are mixing at the moment the refrigeration units could be full up stay isolated is the only safe way
I prey the dead doesn’t come back as zombies!!!
SHUT THE FERRY COMPANIES DOWN ! ! ! NOW ! ! ! KEEP THE RED FUNNEL ‘CARGO’ ONLY FERRY RUNNING ONLY. YOU HAVE HUNDREDS TRYING TO ESCAPE LONDON AND GOING TO THE ISLAND. STOP ALL TRAVEL NOW ! ! !
They should go to Seaview.Its full of the Londoners coming down to their second homes . Wandering around with their children as though nothing is going to stop them having their Easter Jolly. I do hope they have enough ventilators in BUPA.
Let’s hope that the refrigerators stay empty, i don’t normally pray but I’ve been asking every day that everyone stays healthy and safe
God’s strength I hope and pray that this nasty virus goes away and we won’t need those containers. Yes good for the army being here it’s brings alot of comfort to us all. Bless all in that line odf work and I do hope and pray that people now will stay at home
So ,outside exercise could be banned now ha ha ,now you know why the army is really here for. Well I think if the government thinks they can stop everyone from leaving their house,I’m afraid they are going to need to sent more the 40 troops me thinks! Watching with interest.
By sounds of it the army would be better placed on the likes of Sandown seafront rounding up the druggies alcoholics and general low life congregation there.
thanks