A TEMPORARY hospital may be built in North Wales to cope with the Covid-19 pandemic.

Darren Millar, AM for Clwyd West, is calling on Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) to reassure patients that extra beds will be made available in the area to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic.

With provisions being made in England and South Wales to manage the increased demand for hospital beds, Mr Millar contacted Mark Polin, chairman of the health board, to ask what is being done in North Wales.

He was told action is being taken to establish a temporary hospital for Covid-19 patients, but Mr Millar continues to be concerned stating that people are 'worried and need reassurances now.'

He said: "I've been contacted by many people over the weekend seeking reassurances that there will be extra beds for North Wales patients.

“Last Friday I contacted Betsi Cadwaladr’s Chairman, Mark Polin, and he has indicated that the health board is taking action to establish a temporary hospital for Covid-19 patients in North Wales and that an announcement on this will be made soon.

"But people are worried now and I therefore urge the Health Board to reveal details as soon as possible to reassure people and put their minds at rest."

He added: "The UK Government has announced the acquisition of private healthcare facilities and is setting up Nightingale Hospitals at the ExCel Centre in London, the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham and Manchester Central.

"Here in Wales there are already plans to provide 2,000 emergency beds at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff and hundreds more at Parc y Scarlets in Llanelli, but we are yet to hear what is happening here in North Wales."

A spokesperson from BCUHB said: "As part of our response to the ongoing outbreak of Covid-19 we have created additional bed capacity in our hospitals to manage the increase in demand we expect to see. In addition to this, we will be meeting with our partners on Monday to discuss a range of further options to increase this capacity across North Wales, including more beds in community settings.

“At the same time, primary and community care services are working hard to keep people well and out of crisis. This will ensure that our specialist acute services are available for those people who need them.”

The NHS Nightingale Hospital in London will initially provide up to 500 beds equipped with ventilators and oxygen.

The capacity will then continue to increase, potentially up to several thousand beds, should it be required.