Private sector allocates 'almost entire' hospital capacity to NHS in historic Covid-19 deal including thousands more beds, ventilators, and healthcare staff

Thousands more beds, ventilators and healthcare staff will be available from next week in fight against coronavirus thanks after the NHS struck a historic deal with private hospitals.

Under the agreement, the independent sector will reallocate almost its entire national hospital capacity to the NHS and will be reimbursed at cost.

The extra resources, including nearly 20,000 staff, will also help the NHS deliver other urgent operations and cancer treatments.

The deal – the first of its kind – includes the provision of 8,000 hospital beds across England, nearly 1,200 more ventilators, more than 10,000 nurses, over 700 doctors and over 8,000 other clinical staff.

In London it includes over 2000 hospital beds, and over 250 operating theatres and critical beds.

NHS chief executive Sir Simon Stevens hailed the deal with the private sector, saying: “We’re dealing with an unprecedented global health threat and are taking immediate and exceptional action to gear up.

“The NHS is doing everything in its power to expand treatment capacity and is working with partners right across the country to do so.”

Matt Hancock, Health Secretary said the deal was "great news".

“This is great news for the hospitals and staff doing everything they can to combat coronavirus", he said.

David Hare, chief executive of the Independent Healthcare Providers Network, said the independent sector is ready to support the NHS for as long as needed.

“We have worked hand-in-hand with the NHS for decades and will do whatever it takes to support the NHS in responding to this pandemic", he said.

“This significant additional capacity across the country will be a major boost to the NHS’s efforts to treat those patients that need hospital care over the coming period and the independent sector stands ready to maintain that support for as long as needed.”