Build a Pop-Up Hospital to Relieve Coronavirus Strain

With coronavirus continuing to spread across the UK adding increased strain on the healthcare sector, Bunkabin’s units could be the answer to relieve the burden.

First identified in Wuhan, China in December 2019, COVID-19 is a new disease that has not previously been seen in humans. The first infections have been traced to a live animal market, and COVID-19 is believed to have originated in bats. The virus is now spreading across the world, with no definitive answer on exactly how it is spread.

The UK is bracing itself for an epidemic of coronavirus cases, with health officials warning widespread transmission is now “highly likely”. The current plan is for 30 hospitals with infectious disease units to remain on standby to take patients infected by the coronavirus.

Will hospitals be able to cope with an increasing number of patients?

Most of the people who have tested positive are being treated at five specialist centres in England - the Royal Free and St. Thomas’ in London, as well as hospitals in Liverpool, Sheffield and Newcastle - where they can care for more than 100 patients at any one time. Factoring in the other 25 sites, there is still plenty of capacity to treat patients. However, if the epidemic continues, hospitals across the country may start to be overburdened by the number of new cases.

Hospitals are already being asked to establish how coronavirus patients can be segregated from the general population of patients across the hospital. However, with no way of knowing exactly how many cases there will be, will hospitals be able to cope alone?

With one-in-five sufferers needing hospital treatment and one-in-20 needing critical care, hospitals may need to look for ways to relieve the pressure on beds to allow them to treat everyone.

Are Bunkabin’s sleeper units the answer?

Many sectors already make use of Bunkabin’s on-site sleeping accommodation and welfare facilities to house people comfortably and safely. Our cabins come in a variety of layouts, housing up to three people with spacious en-suite bathrooms, ample storage space and excellent amenities, including a powerful, low-energy pressure shower and thermostat-controlled heating.

Our cabins are manufactured to the exacting standards of the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and were the preferred choice for the Royal Navy officers, sailors and commissioning personnel working on two aircraft carriers, the Queen Elizabeth and Prince of Wales at HMS Caledonia in Rosyth.

To help relieve the strain on NHS hospital buildings, Bunkabin can help to create pop-up isolation facilities to ensure all patients are provided with warm and comfortable accommodation while riding out the virus, allowing those who require intensive care to receive the treatment they deserve.

Units could also be used as accommodation for hospital staff or support staff to provide a safe environment.

All you need to do is supply drains, power and water, which is not available via mains, which can be provided temporarily through generators and water bowsers.

If you’d be interested in hearing more about how Bunkabin can help with the coronavirus pandemic, get in touch with us today by calling 0345 456 7899 or by filling in our online enquiry form.