THE Nightingale hospital in Manchester will start receiving patients who do not have Covid-19 from today, October 28, the NHS has confirmed.

The move comes after Nightingale hospitals in northern England were put on standby earlier this month (October 12) as a result of rising Covid-19 cases.

The North-East's site, near Sunderland, was also put on standby alongside the field hospital in Harrogate, North Yorkshire.

A spokesperson for the NHS in the North West said: “The NHS Nightingale Hospital North West will accept patients from today to provide care for those who do not have Covid-19, but do need further support before they are able to go home, such as therapy and social care assessments.”

The opening of the Manchester site to non-Covid patients comes after revelations Greater Manchester’s intensive care capacity could be overwhelmed by Covid-19 within weeks.