Twenty of Althea’s specialist biomed engineers are playing a vital role at the newly built Nightingale NHS Hospital in London to build, test and commission thousands of lifesaving medical equipment ready for the first patients to be treated.
Over the last seven days, the Althea team has joined the national unprecedented response to COVID-19, with onsite engineers working tirelessly, unpacking, building, setting up, testing and servicing over 1000 medical devices.
In just nine days the ExCel exhibition centre in London's Docklands area, usually used for large events, has been transformed into an emergency 4000 bed hospital to cope with patients affected by COVID-19.
On Monday 30th March, Althea’s engineers started on site with some of the team staying away from family so they could help on this project, with others travelling many hours each day to help.
The company, which is offering vital support during the global pandemic, says that all of its engineers volunteered for the role after Althea were awarded the contract to be the dedicated onsite biomed managed equipment support. This includes a complete biomed service from setting up the bed spaces with all the equipment, which has all been commissioned by Althea. Going forward, Althea will be onsite to offer full management support of all medical devices as clinicians care for patients during the global pandemic.
“The response from our engineers’ during this unprecedented time as been incredible and we are so very proud of everyone involved,” said David Rolfe, UK&I Chief Executive Officer at Althea.
“The team have been really responsive to a fast-moving situation, and everyone have worked well beyond their contracted hours, spending time away from their families to help make sure the hospital is ready and functional. There is no doubt that the hospital will make a huge difference to the capacity in London and help the NHS as it handles the surge in COVID-19 patients expected over the coming weeks.”
NHS Nightingale Hospital London is the first of several Nightingale Hospitals planned in England including the University of the West of England in Bristol and the Harrogate Convention Centre. Others are due to be set up at Manchester's Central Complex as well as Birmingham's National Exhibition Centre.
Althea has the largest constituency of biomed engineers on site at the Nightingale Hospital London providing support. The company are also currently engaging with other Nightingale hospital sites to see what help, advice and support Althea can offer the other sites across the UK.
