The British Army have been working to clear out, refurbish and transport beds from the former Camp Hill prison to St Mary’s Hospital for use in the battle against COVID-19.
Many locals have reported rare activity at the now-disused prison, which closed its doors in 2013. For the first time in the best part of a decade, the doors to what was HMP Camp Hill have been opened.
It has now been confirmed that beds previously used by inmates at Camp Hill are being repurposed to be used by the Isle of Wight NHS Trust to increase bed capacity.
As previously reported by Island Echo, the Army arrived on the Island on 4th April to assist local authorities in their response to the coronavirus crisis. Their work includes transforming 3 buildings at St Mary’s into new wards.
Sorry if I come across as being snobby but the nightingale they built in London gets all modern new equipment and beds but the Isle of Wight get hand me downs from a defunct prison. Come on bob you and our health minister can do better than this. Is it not bad enough that we get carted of to hospital and completely segregated away from family and normality we now have to use second rate hand me downs which are probably just as comfy as laying on concrete.
Basically imo, what is happening is HMG are rushing to get hospitals all the beds and ventilators that it can, time and money permitting.
Once ‘there’ they will send us back to work, to try to salvage something of the shattered economy.
HMG know then, that almost as many of us will indeed die in virtually the same numbers as if they had not had lockdown. BUT the difference is, we will then die in hospital, NOT in our houses, with the worlds eager press watching and reporting that the Tory party and UK cannot cope.
So the same total roughly will die, but over a longer time span, thus allowing our hospitals to admit such, otherwise the deaths would be more harrowing for family AND HMG as they would never be forgiven as press interviewed family, friends etc if lost at home.
NOW victims are just ‘numbers’ rather than people to the press. Big difference to HMG, but sadly not to the families of such.
YET, what else could HMG do?
Wonders if there is ventilators to match the number of beds? and wonders if we are expecting future peaks..
I really don’t wish to sound critical because the army and all the public services are doing absolutely amazing however whilst I understand that equipment will be in short supply I would struggle to respect that a loved one would be sleeping in a bed that once belonged to a prisoner and with the greatest of respect being the Isle of Wight probably a paedophile. Like I say I know we are in unprecedented times and measures to be able to cope and probably cost savings rather than buying new beds where money is not available is completely understandable but I just struggle with the compassion using these beds that is just my opinion I am not insulting or knocking anybody
Whilst I agree with most of what you said which raised a lot of important points I think that mentioning that being the Isle of Wight the beds were more than likely being used previously by a paedophile.
You must have thought the statement would probably cause offence and unfortunately it has.
With that one comment all the good points raised now seem quite insignificant.
These beds will be used for people really poorly and possibly not going to recover.
A bed is better than a mattress on the floor. It offers some dignity in these dark times.
These are emergency beds for an emergency situation and hopefully they will not be needed. The negativity needs to stop.
We all need to look at the bigger picture and practicality of the situation.
People need to stop saying things that can add extra worry and fear when it’s just hazarding a guess. It’s nothing short of scaremongering.
Not only are the medical teams, fire service, police and coastguard doing a truly fantastic job during this crisis.
I also say the army have stepped right up to the plate. They deserve a slap on the back also.
Stag on lads!!!
Alderney have NO CV cases at all, as they acted swiftly to the obvious risk:
https://uk.yahoo.com/news/alderney-zero-coronavirus-cases-132147499.html
Shame our Island home couldn’t have done likewise. Too late IS too late
Who ever would have thought that we could soon be dying on a bed where some vile s ex offender or other criminal last slept, the most weird times ever.
Stay safe and hope that you are spared.
They did something that should have happened here, stopping the ferry travel! IMO only those who live here and have to travel to and from the mainland for essential work and hospital appts should have been allowed along with food and other supplies.
Our Council and MP should have made this the absolute priority!
I didn’t think the numbers that have been affected by COVID 19 were big enough to use beds from prisons, do they know something we don’t?.
I hope the purely soles don’t get to know where there beds have come from, it’s very worrying to think some of us may die on an old prison bed.
Hope they are deep cleaned first.
If the sight of all these beds doesn’t shock people into staying indoors, nothing will. Let’s hope all these beds won’t be needed. But if you are one of the selfish who are not following government guidelines, you might just end up in one!
Hope I don’t end my days on one of those ‘soiled’ beds
Lets hope those beds are not needed…… and that the hospital will be getting the CORRECT PPE for the hospital staff.
Here’s a question : How come the staff at Boots pharmacies/chemists have full PPE, gowns, masks, visors, gloves and yet, a lot of NHS staff, do not have even the simplest of PPE. Shambles.
I will be contacting the CEO or similar high up person at our Hospital to find out what is going on…… but I’m guessing most of the executives will not be on site. and why are they not saying anything about, when or where this important equipment is, and more worrying, why isn’t our wonderful local MP on the case, hurrying things along. Shambles.
Looking at the stats are we really going to need all this, just asking
Reply to Mojo. This is what I can’t understand. Why are our numbers increasing and who are spreading the virus? Perhaps it’s s matter of better safe than sorry. The island has got to be prepared just incase the numbers rise dramatically I suppose.
Hope they searched the frames properly… never know what has been stashed there..
Watching with interest as the media try to scare more sheep’s.
There is more to this story than appears in the article – it is not just the Army working on this.
Several Island contractors are working with the NHS to get this ward up and running and I know of at least one person who was in there over the long Easter weekend working with NHS staff so that the wards could be ready as soon as possible.
It should also be noted that the person in question, like I suspect many others, donated their time and expertise for free.
This is an example of the Island pulling together in time of need to get the job done.
Why haven’t they thought about converting camp hill into a make shift hospital for convid19 and at least it could be better contained there and people wouldn’t be afraid to keep appointments at hospital. Council could spend money sorting that out and buying more Ppe for our NHS instead of this bloody stupid road scheme at st Mary’s.
Firstly it would take to long to get it up to a suitable standard. Secondly have you read the comments above? People are moaning that they or their loved ones may be treated on a old prison bed. Just imagine the outcry if God forbid they were housed in an old prison as well.
That is right why don’t they turn camp hill into another hospital
Hope they don’t use the mattresses … from the stores !
Most prisoners defecate and soil them … perish the thought