Gas emergency and pipeline service Wales & West Utilities has played a pivotal role in connecting the new Nightingale Hospital in Exeter to the local gas network.
An eight-strong team from the company spent two days connecting the new supply to a purpose-built kiosk, which has allowed the 116-bed NHS Nightingale hospital to benefit from mains gas.
The hospital, which has been built in an industrial area of the city, was created to care for Covid-19 patients, but is now being utilised for cancer patients who will start to be screened at the facility.
The hospital, which has been transformed from a former Homebase store into hospital at Moor Lane, Sowton in just six weeks, officially opened this week (6 July).
To transform the ex-retail unit into an NHS Hospital in six weeks has involved a great deal of effort from all parties involved.
We learnt about the project and our team worked hard to make sure the hospital had the mains gas supply it needed.
We are delighted to play a role in making sure the latest Nightingale Hospital is up and running and able to take patients. While we may be passed the peak of the Coronavirus pandemic, it’s important that our healthcare system remains prepared. At Wales & West Utilities we’re committed to keeping the gas flowing safely to homes, businesses, and vital infrastructure like hospitals.
In response to the huge strain the NHS has been feeling during the pandemic, Wales & West Utilities completed the work free of change.
The hospital will now be used to help local GPs and hospitals to cope with a huge backlog of potential cancer patients Whilst the hospital beds, which were specifically designed for people with Covid-19 needs, will remain ready to quickly revert to its primary purpose and receive patients with coronavirus, if the number of cases in the region rises significantly.
Wales & West Utilities, the gas emergency and pipeline service, brings energy to 7.5m people across the south west of England and Wales. If you smell gas, or suspect the presence of carbon monoxide, call us on 0800 111 999 straight away, and our engineers will be there to help any time of day or night. Before visiting, we'll ask you to let us know if you or anyone in your household, is experiencing Coronavirus symptoms or self-isolating. We'll still come and help you: but our teams will take some additional precautions to keep us all safe.