Forum Topic

The Nightingale coronavirus hospital

It's been built in the ExCel Centre as an excellent example of civil-military cooperation to build what's described as the world's biggest hospital, at 4,000 beds.  It's very impressive, and good to see that this kind of exercise can still be mounted when it's really needed.There's a time-lapse video of its construction here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_mesqgyPkpw

Richard Carter ● 2260d8 Comments

Ventilators have Heat and Moisture exchanges (HME's) that filter air coming out of the lungs. As long as patients are on a ventilator they won't be breathing out into the open:https://derangedphysiology.com/main/cicm-primary-exam/required-reading/respiratory-system/Chapter%20507/passive-heat-and-moisture-0

William Smith ● 2259d

As long as they have air....https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/apr/02/london-hospital-almost-runs-out-oxygen-coronavirus-patients

Matt Palmer ● 2259d

Thanks Michael, looking at the pictures the air system worries me. I hope it's just me.

Ed Robinson ● 2259d

Ed. I don't know the medical answer to that. However,  listening to the news it appears to be the easiest option for providing the additional beds required. Also, from the news (BBC) it will be used for those already on ventilators so they will be fed with a clean oxygen mix from the specially installed tanks. Given that and the patients already have COVID-19,  cross infections may not be a major issue? I guess the problem will be protecting NHS staff? Perhaps someone knows more?

Michael Ixer ● 2259d

Do we have any evidence that these large basically open ward hospitals improve the success rate?There is no individual filtering of air from each cubicle from the picture.Given the recent viral load concerns I wonder if such a design may have a negative outcome.It will be interesting if someone knows why we are going down this route.

Ed Robinson ● 2259d

Speeds up getting the tests to and from the lab? 🙂

Michael Ixer ● 2260d

"I guess they won't be running Formula E through it in July; the pits, stop/start straight and grandstand were going to be inside with the rest of the circuit going round the outside!"Wow, the trolley service at the new hospital will be quite something then!

David Ainsworth ● 2260d

Richard. Yes, an impressive achievement. I find it fascinating having attended a number of events there. I guess they won't be running Formula E through it in July; the pits, stop/start straight and grandstand were going to be inside with the rest of thecircuit going round the outside! (Perhaps not quit the same harm as the Battersea Park circut?) I was wondering if this was on the onld pandemic planning? In the '00s I remember the FCA was asking financial services companies about their pandemic plans following the initial SARS scare ... I heard that with the contingency planning for terrorism and hard Brexits the government lost sight of its pandemic plans ...It's also good to see the specialist engineering expertise of F1, Dyson, etc in the UK coming to the fore as well 🙂 

Michael Ixer ● 2260d