The staff canteen, Charters Restaurant, has temporarily shut to allow a makeshift ward to open in its place as the hospital braces for a wave of new Covid admissions in the weeks to come.
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The figure has nearly doubled in the two years since the Covid pandemic started in 2019, when 33% of emergency patients were left waiting more than 4 hours for a bed.
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Royal Preston Hospital has identified the main staff dining area as the most suitable site for these extra beds, with capacity for around 50 patients.
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The restaurant normally opens seven days a week, between 8am to 2pm, and provides hot meals, sandwiches and salads to staff.
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