Former Exeter Homebase To Become Nightingale Hospital

Exeter's former Homebase store, which closed in 2018, is undergoing conversion into an NHS Nightingale hospital.

According to online local press service, Cornwall Live, work started on the 36,000 sq ft Moor Lane, Sowton, site, on 6th May.  A further 3,300 sq ft of space is being added to the existing building and there are almost 100 people working at the site, which is expected to open in mid-June.  

The new hospital will have one storey, five wards and 120 beds, and will serve patients from Devon and Cornwall and other neighbouring counties.  It is expected that 450 staff - who are currently working elsewhere in the region's healthcare locations - could be called upon to work in the hospital if peak capacity was reached.  It will remain available for use for an initial nine-month period which can be extended if required.  

BAM Construction Ltd and the military are organising the build.

No rental charge is to be made by Columbia Threadneedle Investments, the owner of the unit, as per agreements between landlords and other Nightingale hospitals.

Rob Dyer, Medical Director of the Nightingale hospital, said: “We have brought together a strong team to deliver this latest addition to the NHS Nightingale hospital family.

“In many ways the outlook is better than it was because of the amazing response to ‘lock-down’ in the south west.

“The Nightingale Hospital Exeter has been designed to be flexible to support the recovery of our hospitals after a period where we have not been able to provide ‘usual services’.”

Click here to view a walk-through of the new hospital.

Source : Insight DIY Team and Cornwall Live

Image : Unspecified Homebase clearance store

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