Northumberland businesses help kit-out two new Nightingale hospitals after the centre of Covid-19 battle

Stuart Arkle (Fergusons), Ian Levy MP and Martin McKenna (Universal Wolf).

Universal Wolf in Blyth is manufacturing fast-assembly beds to be used at the new hospitals in Birmingham and Glasgow, with Cramlington-based Fergusons Transport handling the distribution over the Easter weekend.

Martin McKenna, commercial director at Universal Wolf, said: “The whole team at Universal Wolf has been working tirelessly including the Easter weekend to ensure we support the NHS in every way possible. We are very fortunate to have such a committed workforce in, and around, Blyth.”

Stuart Arkle, director of Fergusons Transport, added: “It is a privilege to have been given the opportunity to work with another Blyth Valley company in these unprecedented times.

“Delivering emergency care beds to the Nightingale Hospitals is a special job, and one that I am proud that Fergusons has been able to help with.”

The beds have all the core functions of a standard hospital bed and have been specifically designed by medical device company Accora. They can be transported flat-pack and assembled quickly without expert knowledge.

Tim Drake, operations director of Accora, said: “Universal Wolf is one of our key manufacturing partners who have helped get production of the bed up to 3,500 units per week, from a standing start two weeks ago when the bed was first designed.

“This has been a truly incredible effort and shows what UK manufacturing is capable of when called upon.”

The first batch of 75 beds manufactured in Blyth was transported on Good Friday to the NHS Nightingale Hospital in Birmingham, which has been set up at the National Exhibition Centre. The next batch will again be transported by Fergusons to the NHS Louisa Jordan Hospital in Glasgow at the Special Events Campus.

Blyth Valley MP, Ian Levy, said: “It is fantastic to see that local businesses are a part of the national effort to respond to the coronavirus crisis. These beds will allow the two Nightingale Hospitals in Birmingham and Glasgow to be treating patients as soon as they are delivered.

“I have said many times over the last few weeks how important it is to be working together in Blyth Valley. This is another example of what working together can achieve.

“It is also a reminder that we have some great businesses with dedicated workforces, that are doing all they can at this difficult time.”

Mr Levy, who was elected in December, launched Blyth Valley Together last week to join up the ‘incredible efforts’ being made to support the most vulnerable people.

Morrisons supermarket in Blyth and Fergusons Transport are two of the businesses involved, with community groups now receiving food deliveries to distribute to those in most need.

Before the weekend, Morrisons donated 150 Easter eggs and Mr Levy presented them to staff at the Northumbria Specialist Emergency Care Hospital in Cramlington.

“Staff at the hospital are doing such an amazing job in circumstances that we have never seen before,” he said. “I can’t thank them enough and an Easter egg is a small token of my appreciation, and I’m sure everyone in Blyth Valley, for the dedication shown by every single member of staff at the hospital.”

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