Best Western offers to turn hotels into hospitals and vaccine hubs

Best Western is once again offering to transform its hotels into satellite hospitals to host vaccinations and ease NHS capacity as coronavirus cases rise.

The company has been working with medical experts for nine months and has submitted proposals to the government suggesting over 500 hotels could partner with the health service.

Last year two of the group’s Dorset properties were transformed into discharge hospitals for NHS patients and carers.

Andrew Denton, head of hotels GB at Best Western, said the company had “learnt a lot from that experience” and is offering to resume hosting outpatient appointments.

Best Western said hotels could also be used for vaccinations and to provide accommodation for NHS staff needing to isolate.

A document sent to the government seen by The Caterer says the programme is capable of ‘immediate rollout’ across the country.

Denton said: “We have the logistics, insurance, governance, medical and hospitality expertise ready and waiting to roll this out nationwide, we are just waiting on a decision from the Cabinet Office.

“We want to see the country open again for business, education and leisure as soon as is safely possible and we believe our offer can help do that, by shortening the national lockdown.”

According to The Telegraph the hotel chain is already in talks with St Bartholomew’s NHS Trust in London and Kent Medway Trust about converting some of its premises.

The proposals have been submitted by Best Western and non-profit group Process C-19, a consortium of medical, hospitality, legal and logistical organisations set up to help the NHS cope with capacity constraints during the pandemic.

C-19’s team includes Professor Hugh Montgomery, director of the centre for human health and performance at University College London, and experts from the University of Oxford Medical School. Its also lists Accor and London Hotel Group among its partners.

The group's outpatient solutions are based on modelling and studies with the Medway Innovation Institute, which works to improve NHS patient care.

Best Western Great Britain is a membership organisation of approximately 270 independently owned hotels.