Senior NHS sources received new guidelines Tuesday after the surge in Omicron hospital admissions. Almost 119,789 new Covid cases and 147 more coronavirus-related deaths have been recorded in the UK in the past 24 hours.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) reported 16,817 more confirmed cases of the Omicron variant of Covid identified across the country.
Although public health experts have stated that Omicron is less likely to result in serious illness and hospitalization, the NHS still has to prepare for a new wave of infections in late December through early January.
The NHS England has reportedly asked all hospitals across the country to put “mini nightingale hospitals” in their parking lots, canteens and meeting rooms.
The Nightingale Hospitals were large field hospitals built in London, Birmingham, Bristol, Cumbria, Exeter, Harrogate and Manchester during the first wave of Covid.
However, the quickly built hospitals were not widespread.
The temporary wards could care for up to 100 patients who would be the least ill.
The workers in the makeshift facilities were mostly non-hospital staff. The NHS suffers from staff shortages and Covid infections in its own ranks.
According to the Royal College of Physicians (RCP), every 13th doctor is currently unable to work due to Covid.
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“Hospitals are already implementing measures.
“The best the public can do is book their booster vaccine.”
