Having received applause from people across the country every Thursday for the past several weeks, NHS workers reversed roles and clapped construction workers after they completed the NHS Louisa Jordan coronavirus hospital in Glasgow on Sunday (19 April).
From today (20 April) the temporary hospital at the Scottish Events Campus (SEC) in Glasgow will be equipped and ready to treat patients if required.
It was constructed by contractors Balfour Beatty, Graham, Kier, and Robertson. In a statement on Twitter, the hospital said: “Every week, the nation has been clapping for carers. Today, as construction is completed on NHS Louisa Jordan, our NHS staff are clapping for every single member of our contractor teams who have worked night and day to make this possible.”
The Scottish government said it hoped the hospital, which has capacity for an initial 300 patients and can be expanded to more than 1,000 beds, would not be needed due to an increase in the number of NHS Scotland beds.
Constructing the hospital and the equipping of each bed is expected to cost approximately £43m. Almost all of the expenditure has been incurred via contract placed by NHS National Services Scotland and using existing frameworks, providing value for money against pre tendered rates.
Health secretary Jeane Freeman said: “I want to offer my sincere gratitude and thanks to the contractors and NHS Scotland staff who have come from across Scotland to work tirelessly to transform the SEC into the NHS Louisa Jordan. You are an inspiration to us all.
“The decision on patients being accepted at the NHS Louisa Jordan will be reviewed on a regular basis. I hope this facility will not be needed as, alongside the public’s continued efforts to stay at home, NHS Scotland has already taken steps to increase the number of NHS beds.
Chief executive of NHS Louisa Jordan Jill Young said: “Building the NHS Louisa Jordan has been an incredible effort. It has been a privilege to lead the project and I want to thank all those who have come from across the country to help us establish this national facility.
“The hospital stands ready to treat patients from across Scotland in a safe, effective and compassionate way, if required.”
