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A South Tyneside business owner has played an important part in getting the region's Nightingale Hospital ready to receive its first patients.  

Phil Hartley, Managing Director of Highly Efficient Heating in Whitburn, has been nominated as part of Â鶹ÊÓƵ's #ProudtoSupport campaign after volunteering to install vital medical pipelines in the North East hospital.

Phil and his team of heating, plumbing and gas experts installed the pipes which are located next to each bed, supplying much-needed oxygen, medical gas and suction.

The Mayor of South Tyneside, Councillor Norman Dick, said: "The Mayoress and I would like to say a personal thank you to Phil and his team for offering a helping hand in the construction of the North East Nightingale Hospital.

"It is with the help of people like Phil that has meant the building is fully prepared to provide vital care to coronavirus patients. Care that is so important to help in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.   

"We want to commend unsung heroes across the Borough through our #ProudtoSupport campaign and say a great big thank you to local people for doing their bit during this crisis. It is wonderful to see communities come together."  

The 460-bed hospital by Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals Foundation Trust is situated at the Washington IAMP development and will take patients if hospitals do not have the capacity to treat them.

It was Phil himself who finished installing the pipelines for the last bed in the hospital, describing the feeling once the job was complete as surreal, but special.

Phil, who is from East Boldon, said: "I feel proud that we had the opportunity to do something to help. My son was part of our installation team, and it's amazing to think that this is something we will be telling our grandchildren's generation about in years to come. We were luckily enough to play our part in this historical moment."