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17
Jul 2020
Government 'should compensate' for Nightingale extension
Government should compensate for a loss of business at Harrogate Convention Centre due to the Nightingale Hospital extension, say opposition councillors.
Pat Marsh, Liberal Democrat leader of the opposition on Harrogate Borough Council, said the hospital was needed but added that the government should offer support for the impact of having the convention centre out of action for longer.
It comes as Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced £3 billion worth of funding to maintain the Nightingale Hospitals across the country until the end of March.
NHS England will be given the money in preparation for a potential second wave of covid-19 this winter.
Read more:
- Harrogate’s Nightingale hospital to remain until March
- WATCH: Harrogate’s Nightingale opens: A rapid feat of construction and engineering
- Fears for local economy as hospitality and events remain on hold
But Cllr Marsh said the conference centre “underpins” Harrogate’s economy and the government should be made aware of its economic impact.
She said:
Earlier this year, local businesses raised fears about the impact of having the convention centre unable to host events for at least a year.
Harrogate Borough Council said it is still discussing with NHS Yorkshire and Humber over what role the Nightingale at the convention centre will play.
https://twitter.com/Harrogatebc/status/1284077184542531584
Andrew Jones, Harrogate and Knaresborough MP, has been contacted for comment but had not responded by the time of publication.
If cases remain at a manageable level for existing hospitals, the Nightingales will continue to offer extra capacity for routine testing and treatment. The Nightingale hospital in Harrogate has been offering CT scanning to non-Covid patients since June 4.
It was set up by armed forces and NHS professionals in just three weeks in spring to offer additional treatment facilities for patients from across Yorkshire and the Humber. Staff were trained on site, staying in local hotels, but no Covid patients were ever admitted and the hospital was eventually put on stand-by.
The NHS was not paying any rent for use of Harrogate Convention Centre under the initial contract. It is not yet clear whether rent will now be payable to Harrogate Borough Council, which owns and runs HCC.
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