Nightingale Hospital has about 4,000 beds over 80 wards, making it one of the largest hospitals in the world. The ExCeL in London was transformed into the facility after projections showed thousands of Londoners were expected to need in-hospital treatment for Covid-19. Stefan Rousseau / Getty Images
Nightingale Hospital has about 4,000 beds over 80 wards, making it one of the largest hospitals in the world. The ExCeL in London was transformed into the facility after projections showed thousands of Londoners were expected to need in-hospital treatment for Covid-19. Stefan Rousseau / Getty Images
Nightingale Hospital has about 4,000 beds over 80 wards, making it one of the largest hospitals in the world. The ExCeL in London was transformed into the facility after projections showed thousands of Londoners were expected to need in-hospital treatment for Covid-19. Stefan Rousseau / Getty Images
Nightingale Hospital has about 4,000 beds over 80 wards, making it one of the largest hospitals in the world. The ExCeL in London was transformed into the facility after projections showed thousands o

Coronavirus: Adnec to waive costs for London mega-hospital NHS Nightingale


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The owners of ExCeL London will cover the cost of running the centre after it was turned into a huge pop-up hospital.

Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company said it had not charged Britain's National Health Service rent and has offered to cover running costs.

ExCeL was turned into one of the world's largest hospitals, named NHS Nightingale, in the past two weeks with 4,000 beds in 80 wards.

The decision was made after projections that the capital would need thousands of hospital beds for Londoners diagnosed with Covid-19, the condition caused by the coronavirus.

The Sunday Times had reported that the NHS would have to pay between £2 million (Dh9m/US$2.4m) and £3m a month in rent.

The initial agreement with the NHS included contribution to some operational fixed costs. We have since decided to cover the operational costs ourselves

Adnec clarified it was not going to charge rent and will now pay for the running costs.

“The use of ExCeL London for NHS Nightingale has always been provided to the NHS rent-free," said Jeremy Rees, chief executive of ExCeL London.

"We joined the national effort to combat coronavirus immediately and worked in close partnership with the NHS to ensure this hospital could be up and running in a matter of days.

“The initial agreement with the NHS included contribution to some operational fixed costs. We have since decided to cover the costs ourselves.

“The ExCeL London facility is fully available to the NHS and we are here to support all their needs and requirements during this crisis.

“I’ve seen first-hand the fantastic work that NHS Nightingale London is doing to save lives and respond to the largest national emergency the UK has faced in a generation.

"It is a privilege to support the NHS and its wonderful staff working tirelessly night and day to protect people and save lives.”

Nightingale Hospital was named after Florence Nightingale, who is regarded as one of the founders of modern nursing.

Similar hospitals are being set up in cities including Manchester, Birmingham and Glasgow to handle thousands of virus patients, if needed.

In the UK, more than 47,000 cases have been confirmed and 4,900 people have died from Covid-19.

“We are doing all that we can to help the UK through these challenging times," said Humaid Al Dhaheri, manager director of Adnec.

"To be clear, profit has always been the furthest thing from our minds.

"The venue was offered rent-free from the initial conversation with the NHS and Adnec Group will ensure the ExCeL London partnership comes at no cost to the NHS.

“It is our firm commitment that we will not charge a penny for the use of our facilities and we will provide the NHS with the operational and logistical support it needs for NHS Nightingale London.

“We stand in solidarity with Britain in facing this crisis together, as friends and partners.”

The years Ramadan fell in May

1987

1954

1921

1888

Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
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Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: ARDH Collective
Based: Dubai
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Sector: Sustainability
Total funding: Self funded
Number of employees: 4

As You Were

Liam Gallagher

(Warner Bros)

What drives subscription retailing?

Once the domain of newspaper home deliveries, subscription model retailing has combined with e-commerce to permeate myriad products and services.

The concept has grown tremendously around the world and is forecast to thrive further, according to UnivDatos Market Insights’ report on recent and predicted trends in the sector.

The global subscription e-commerce market was valued at $13.2 billion (Dh48.5bn) in 2018. It is forecast to touch $478.2bn in 2025, and include the entertainment, fitness, food, cosmetics, baby care and fashion sectors.

The report says subscription-based services currently constitute “a small trend within e-commerce”. The US hosts almost 70 per cent of recurring plan firms, including leaders Dollar Shave Club, Hello Fresh and Netflix. Walmart and Sephora are among longer established retailers entering the space.

UnivDatos cites younger and affluent urbanites as prime subscription targets, with women currently the largest share of end-users.

That’s expected to remain unchanged until 2025, when women will represent a $246.6bn market share, owing to increasing numbers of start-ups targeting women.

Personal care and beauty occupy the largest chunk of the worldwide subscription e-commerce market, with changing lifestyles, work schedules, customisation and convenience among the chief future drivers.