Soldiers based in the county have joined the fight against coronavirus by helping in the construction of a new hospital in London.

36 Engineer Regiment, which is based at Invicta Park Barracks in Maidstone and includes the Queen’s Gurkha Engineers, joined other military personnel and private contractors to build NHS Nightingale in a matter of days.

The hospital, based at the ExCeL conference centre in East London, will initially provide up to 500 beds equipped with ventilators and oxygen for victims of the virus. Capacity will then continue to increase, potentially up to several thousand beds should they be required.

Maidstone borough councillor Dinesh Khadka said: "I and the entire community take a great pride in the work the Gurkha soldiers have been doing ​to construct Nightingale hospital in London.

"This is one of many contributions our soldiers, including Gurkha regiments, have been making up and down the country, especially when the nation is in such a crisis of pandemic.

Tonbridge and Malling MP Tom Tugendhat, who served alongside Gurkha troops in Afghanistan, also praised the soldiers worked to get this new hospital built with such speed.

He said: "The Brigade of Gurkhas has stood by Britain at the toughest times in our history and have made their home in Kent. We’re proud of them and their part in our national life.

"It’s no surprise to find the Queen’s Gurkha Engineers in the thick of the fight again, this time against Covid-19. Having served alongside them in many battles, I know we have no better friends."

Military personnel have been involved in the planning stages for the new hospital and will continue to support NHS England by providing infrastructure, logistics and project management advice.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said: "In the face of this unprecedented global emergency, we are taking exceptional steps to increase NHS capacity so we can treat more patients, fight the virus and save lives.

"I applaud the NHS, engineers, and the military for their continued work on setting up the new NHS Nightingale Hospital so it is ready to open its doors next week – a remarkable feat in these challenging circumstances."

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