THE North-East's first field hospital for coronavirus patients has taken just three weeks to spring into action - and will have the capacity for 460 beds.

The new Nightingale Hospital North East located off the A19 in Washington could be ready to take patients by the end of the month.

Latest timelapse footage showing the warehouse for the motor industry being turned into a hospital has been released.

See the video here:

But NHS bosses have said the new hospital won't need to open if people maintain 'social distancing rules' against the spread of COVID-19.

Last night, Martin Wilson, chief operating officer for Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which is overseeing the project, said: "I don’t think we will need to open.

“If people can all play their part in social distancing, if a vaccine comes along, my hope is that we don’t need to open.

“If we do, we will be ready.”

The Northern Echo:

It is understood that more than 250 people worked on the site, which up until recently had been revealed as the region's first hospital of its kind.

Tom Wheldon, Director at HBD - a developer which worked on the conversion - said: “While we never imagined that the Centre for Sustainable and Advanced Manufacturing would start its life as an NHS hospital, as a brand-new, world-class building it lends itself well to its new, if unexpected, purpose.

“We sincerely hope that the hospital isn’t needed, and the NHS remains able to cope within its existing capacity, but it’s prudent to be prepared and we’re pleased to have been able to support the NHS by bringing forward completion of the building and infrastructure.

"I’ve no doubt that CESAM will prove a sound choice for the North East’s Nightingale, providing a safe and comfortable environment to care for those battling this disease.”