Event venues have been instrumental in helping the NHS tackle the COVID-19 crisis. We take a look at just a few that allowed their space to be repurposed to help fight the pandemic.
Harrogate Convention Centre
This convention centre usually hosts corporate delegates and organisers in its 12 events spaces, but throughout the pandemic, HIC was being put to very different use. In April 2020, it was announced that the centre was to host 500 NHS beds as one of seven Nightingale hospitals intendedto treat COVID-19 patients after regular hospitals risked exceeding their capacity to treat them.
The centre’s Director Paula Lorimer said at the time of the expansion: “At Harrogate Convention Centre, we are proud to support the NHS and are enormously grateful to, and in awe of, our health and care professionals. They are truly heroic in responding to COVID-19. We, and no doubt the entire town, will do all we can to support their efforts. We are working closely with our partners and colleagues at Harrogate Borough Council, and I thank them for their support and clear direction on ensuring the challenge of transforming our building is met swiftly. I would also like to thank all of the staff at the venue, who without hesitation came back to their posts to ensure the Nightingale Harrogate Hospital opened on time.”
The Octagon Centre
The Octagon Centre This Sheffield space opened up as a vaccination centre in June 2021 and has been delivering about 800 vaccinations per day. Hope Thackray, the first person to be vaccinated at the location, said: “I booked my appointment straight away after it was announced that people aged 25 and over could book their COVID-19 vaccination. I live close to the city centre, so it was easiest to book at the Octagon Centre as it’s only a 15-minute walk away and close to my work. The process was simple, there were lots of signposts and people around to direct me and so I’d encourage anyone close by to go there for their vaccination.”
When it’s not on COVID-19 duty the centre is a multi-purpose venue at the heart of the University of Sheffield campus. With a capacity of up to 1,500 the venue has hosted conferences and exhibitions, live music gigs, sport and comedy shows.
Millennium Point
This Birmingham landmark in the heart of Eastside is also doing its part to get people vaccinated. As well as hosting 13 different event spaces Millennium Point also became a major vaccination hub in January 2021, vaccinating up to 2,500 people per day.
Representatives of Millennium Point said: “Our venue was chosen for our convenient city centre location, with excellent public transport links and on-site car parking; the size and versatility of our event spaces, including our large and well-ventilated atrium; and our rapid response to ensuring our venue is COVID secure. The NHS team were impressed by the professionalism and adaptability of our the team, which gave them the confidence to confirm the
residency.
“Our team worked diligently alongside the NHS Birmingham and Solihull to transform our spaces ensuring we created a safe and welcoming environment for the public. We implemented a thorough communications campaign across our digital channels, including new landing pages and dedicated FAQs, to support the NHS in delivering vital information to the public. Our staff are on site and online 24/7 to aid staff, volunteers and the public to give information where necessary. This was particularly vital in the first few weeks of the vaccination rollout where we were supporting those over 80 and vulnerable, many of whom had not been out of their homes since March 2020.”
