Captain Tom to open new Harrogate Nightingale hospital to honour veteran’s magnificent efforts
Having now raised more than £26 million for the NHS, inspirational fundraiser Captain Tom Moore has been invited to be the guest of honour at the official opening of the NHS Nightingale hospital in Harrogate.
Opening on the 21st April, the Harrogate field hospital is the latest Nightingale facility to become operational since the coronavirus outbreak spread across the UK.
With the COVID-19 death toll now exceeding 16,000 in the UK, the Nightingale hospitals have been established to help increase the NHS’ capacity to care for patients across the country.
There are seven Nightingale hospitals: Birmingham, Bristol, Exeter, London, Manchester, Washington and Harrogate.
To mark the opening of the Yorkshire-based facility, the NHS has asked Captain Tom to open the hospital via video link, where he is set to praise the NHS workers for their hard work, dedication and bravery.
Now a household name in the UK, Captain Tom Moore captured the hearts of the nation when he committed to walk 100 laps of his garden before his 100th birthday in a bid to raise money for the health service.
Originally hoping to fundraise £1000, the Yorkshire-born World War II veteran’s efforts went viral and he has currently raised well over £26 million, donated by over 1.26 million people worldwide.
Captain Tom Moore said: “I am still amazed by the amount of kindness and generosity from the UK public who continue to give despite it being an uncertain time for many. I think the amount raised demonstrates just how much we all value the dedication and sacrifices made by our NHS workers. I have fought during a war and they are now fighting in a war too.
“I’m honoured to be opening the NHS Nightingale Yorkshire and Humber and to get to thank many of the NHS workers directly. I know that having extra beds available for the sick, if needed will be reassuring to those workers, as it would have been to me when I was on the frontline.”
Sir Simon Stevens, NHS Chief Executive, commented: “On behalf of the NHS our heartfelt thanks go to Captain Tom Moore for his remarkable fundraising efforts for NHS charities, and to the public for their generosity in supporting him and our staff.
“Inviting Captain Moore to be our guest of honour at the opening of NHS Nightingale Yorkshire and Humber is the least we can do to thank him for his inspiring service and example, and no doubt there will be further ways in which we will be able to express our gratitude.
“Just like the amazing campaign Captain Moore has inspired, the Nightingales are a symbol of how people have come together as part of a nationwide effort to prepare – should they be needed now or in the months to come – for the greatest global health emergency in more than a century.
“But of course we all hope we need to use the Nightingales as little as possible – and the thousands of other beds that hospital staff have freed up – and for that to happen we need the public to continue to stay home to save lives.”
Despite having turned 100 and thoroughly exceeded his original target, Captain Moore has pledged to continue walking and raising money for the NHS and continue to spread cheer whilst doing so.
To contribute to Captain Moore’s efforts, visit his JustGiving page
