Former Royal Marine Steve Francis has spoken of his “immense pride” after transporting in the first patient to be received by the NHS Nightingale Hospital North West. Site Manager Steve works for Interserve as part of the facilities management team at the hospital, which is in the Manchester Central Convention Centre. Interserve runs catering, cleaning, portering and maintenance services at the hospital and mobilised the contract in just 11 days.
Steve, who also worked with the Greater Manchester Fire Brigade before joining Interserve, worked round-the-clock to ensure the COVID-19 hospital was ready in time. The NHS Nightingale Hospital North West will provide both oxygen therapy and general medical care for COVID-19 patients who do not need critical care and can look after up to 750 patients at full capacity. Patients will be transferred from the North West’s hospitals’ critical care units and wards directly to the hospital.
Steve had been working for Interserve on a facilities management (FM) contract at Rainford High in St Helens when he was asked to rollout FM services at the hospital.
He said: “I’ve spent 30-years as a public servant, and I was immensely proud to be asked to set up Interserve’s service at the NHS Nightingale Hospital North West.
“My military training has been incredibly helpful and has guided my approach.
“I know from experience the manager has to understand how everything works, what everyone does and where everything is. If someone needs a HDMI cable, printer or bedlinen - I need to be able to respond immediately.”
Steve, from Maghull, Liverpool, has taken a ‘hands-on’ approach because he wants intimate knowledge of how the site management service should work so that he can manage the team as efficiently and effectively as possible.
He said: “That is why I was the porter for the first patient. It was emotional bringing the first patient into the hospital. I am hugely proud of the work Interserve, the NHS and our terrific supply chain are undertaking at the NHS Nightingale Hospital North West. It is a fantastic team effort.”
The first NHS Nightingale North West patient, Marjorie Carter, aged 84, from Levenshulme, is full of praise for her care. She was transferred to the temporary hospital from Manchester Royal Infirmary and spent four days at Nightingale recuperating before being discharged to a care home for initial rehabilitation. She is now back home and supported by community social care services
She said: “I was treated like Royalty – everyone was very kind. The nurses all came to say goodbye as I was leaving. I want people to know how good the Nightingale is.”
Interserve provides services to 11 NHS hospitals, six healthcare facilities, the London Ambulance Service and the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service. Services the company delivers range from security through to cleaning, catering, maintenance and portering duties.
Steve, who also worked with the Greater Manchester Fire Brigade before joining Interserve, worked round-the-clock to ensure the COVID-19 hospital was ready in time. The NHS Nightingale Hospital North West will provide both oxygen therapy and general medical care for COVID-19 patients who do not need critical care and can look after up to 750 patients at full capacity. Patients will be transferred from the North West’s hospitals’ critical care units and wards directly to the hospital.
Steve had been working for Interserve on a facilities management (FM) contract at Rainford High in St Helens when he was asked to rollout FM services at the hospital.
He said: “I’ve spent 30-years as a public servant, and I was immensely proud to be asked to set up Interserve’s service at the NHS Nightingale Hospital North West.
“My military training has been incredibly helpful and has guided my approach.
“I know from experience the manager has to understand how everything works, what everyone does and where everything is. If someone needs a HDMI cable, printer or bedlinen - I need to be able to respond immediately.”
Steve, from Maghull, Liverpool, has taken a ‘hands-on’ approach because he wants intimate knowledge of how the site management service should work so that he can manage the team as efficiently and effectively as possible.
He said: “That is why I was the porter for the first patient. It was emotional bringing the first patient into the hospital. I am hugely proud of the work Interserve, the NHS and our terrific supply chain are undertaking at the NHS Nightingale Hospital North West. It is a fantastic team effort.”
The first NHS Nightingale North West patient, Marjorie Carter, aged 84, from Levenshulme, is full of praise for her care. She was transferred to the temporary hospital from Manchester Royal Infirmary and spent four days at Nightingale recuperating before being discharged to a care home for initial rehabilitation. She is now back home and supported by community social care services
She said: “I was treated like Royalty – everyone was very kind. The nurses all came to say goodbye as I was leaving. I want people to know how good the Nightingale is.”
Interserve provides services to 11 NHS hospitals, six healthcare facilities, the London Ambulance Service and the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service. Services the company delivers range from security through to cleaning, catering, maintenance and portering duties.