Ant and Dec have officially opened Nightingale North East in Washington.
The Geordie duo led a virtual opening ceremony for the 460 bed hospital, built in just a matter of weeks to treat patients with coronavirus.
Ant and Dec were joined for the opening ceremony by a whole host of North East celebrities including Brendan Foster, Brenda Blethyn, Tanni Grey-Thompson, Jimmy Nail and Ben Stokes, to name but a few.
They all recorded personal messages for a film paying tribute to NHS staff, contractors, civil partners and members of the armed forces who worked tirelessly to build the hospital.
Footballing legend, Alan Shearer led the tributes, by describing all of those involved in the project as 'local heroes'.
General ward Credit: NHSArmed forces building NHS Nightingale North East. Credit: NHSConstruction workers building NHS Nightingale North East. Credit: NHSICU bed, NHS Nightingale North East Credit: NHSAriel, NHS Nightingale North East Credit: NHS
It is of course hoped that no one has to actually use the facility, patients requiring hospitalisation for coronavirus will be treated in existing hospitals in the first instance, with Nightingale North East there to supplement the bed space already available.
As Ant and Dec put it in their opening speech, the best case scenario is that no one has to use it:
NHS Nightingale North East Credit: NHS
The new hospital is based at The Innovation Centre at the International Advanced Manufacturing Park (IAMP) in Washington.
As world leaders in the treatment of infections diseases, Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust will manage the hospital.
It is one of several being built around the country as part of a nationwide effort by NHS England and the Department of Health to create extra facilities to treat coronavirus patients.
Matt Hancock, Health and Social Care Secretary says Nightingale North East is the latest addition to that family:
Her Royal Highness The Countess of Wessex was also part of proceedings and formally opened the Sunderland hospital, in what she described as one of the country's 'friendliest cities'.
Time-lapse of Nightingale North East being built:
The building of Nightingale Hospital North East in numbers:
General ward bed Credit: NHSSink Credit: NHSWard nurse's station Credit: NHSGeneral ward Credit: NHSWard 5 during construction. Credit: NHSNHS Nightingale North East under construction. Credit: NHSOutside NHS Nightingale North East Credit: NHSNHS Nightingale North East ward Credit: NHS
