Hospital bosses reveal why there are 2,000 beds at Sheffield's FlyDSA Arena after picture goes viral
Nearly 2,000 beds are being stored at FlyDSA Arena in Sheffield during the coronavirus pandemic.
Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust has provided an explanation for the use of the arena as a storage depot.
In a statement today, the Trust said: “We are very grateful to FlyDSA Arena Sheffield who are working with us to provide additional logistics capacity at this time.
“Before COVID-19 started we had ordered circa 1,800 new beds for our hospitals as part of a planned replacement scheme because our beds are over 10 years old and becoming inefficient to repair.
“We can no longer dispose of the old beds as we would normally do and need the space in our own stores for other supplies at this time.
“The arena team have been amazing in offering to store the old beds until they can be disposed of once the outbreak is over.
“Thank you FlyDSA Arena Sheffield team for all your incredible support.”