An Exeter DIY store has been turned into a new Nightingale Hospital thanks to the help of 60 Network Rail workers.

The Nightingale Hospital in Sowton Industrial Estate is now ready to treat patients after being transformed from a Homebase store into a hospital.

Initially, the hospital was earmarked to help with COVID-19 patients, but with such low numbers in the South West, it will be used instead for local patients with a CT scanner available to help provide access to tests for a range of conditions from this Thursday 16th July 2020.

Rail workers worked for five days in the build-up to the hospital opening and helped assemble £30,000 of IKEA furniture, fitting out wards, and installing specialist equipment.

Speaking about his time at Exeter’s Nightingale Hospital, Nick Millington, director of Network Rail safety taskforce, said: “We are proud that we have been able to play a part in getting Exeter Nightingale Hospital ready to treat patients.

“Like so many people across the country, we have had so much pride and emotion for our NHS and NHS staff over the last few months, and we felt we needed to give something back in whatever way possible.

“Whilst it is comforting that cases of COVID-19 are so low in the south west that the hospital is not needed for its original purpose, it is vital those patients that require screenings can get seen and the hospital opening will mean that can happen sooner.”

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