Interserve Construction has completed the second phase of NHS Nightingale Hospital Birmingham with the handover of a further 390 beds, taking the total number of beds now on site at the NEC to 1,200.

The company has now delivered the first two phases at the hospital on behalf of the NHS and the University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust. 

More than 400 employees and contractors and 60 Gurkhas from the British Army worked more than 100,000 construction hours on the project.

This was achieved in line with the social distancing rules set out by the UK government and following the guidance issued by the Construction Leadership Council. Interserve is also continuing its work at the NHS Nightingale Hospital Birmingham to increase patient bed capacity.

Vince Kesterton, Interserve Construction project director, said: “Our team, supported by our supply chain of contractors, have delivered a fantastic effort and shown great professionalism in handing over phase two of this project with another 390 critical care beds in just two weeks.

“The way everyone has focussed on the task in hand and worked together as one team has been exceptional. This is a testament to our colleagues, and they should be very proud of their achievements – a project to tell their kids and grandchildren about in the future. I would also like to thank the families behind the people working on site at the NEC for their support.”

NHS Nightingale Hospital Birmingham is one of seven Nightingale Hospitals in the UK, critical care temporary hospitals set up by NHS England as part of the response to the Covid-19 epidemic in England. The first of these hospitals to open was the NHS Nightingale Hospital London.

The Birmingham hospital, which became operational on 10 April 2020, was built in the NEC in eight days and was officially opened as the NHS Nightingale Hospital Birmingham by Prince William, using a video link, on 16 April 2020.

The new hospital will be used for general medical Covid-19 patients, thus leaving the existing hospitals with more capacity to provide specialist intensive care for the most serious cases.