Edinburgh hotel books 1,000 free nights for frontline staff

An Edinburgh hotel has booked 1,000 nights of free rooms and complimentary meals for medical staff and frontline workers battling the ongoing pandemic.

Ten Hill Place, which is owned by The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (RSCEd), first opened its doors to hospital staff on 27 March, and has since accommodated more than 200 key workers.

It is located three miles from the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh and less than a mile from the Royal Hospital for Sick Children, making it an ideal location for frontline staff as the virus continues.

The site’s 129 bedrooms continue to be available for hospital staff, who also have access to free continental breakfasts and evening meals. The further 1,000 nights of free rooms will now be available as the crisis continues to unfold.  

The RCSEd said it has also been in talks with interim chief medical officer, Dr. Gregor Smith, to “declare its willingness to temporarily convert the hotel, should hospitals overflow”.

Scott Mitchell, managing director at Surgeons Quarter, said: “The response to our decision to accommodate medical and clinical workers has been astounding, and we want to encourage more staff who are working at the city’s hospitals to get in touch with us to find out how we can help support them.

“It’s a privilege to play our part in helping make the lives of medical workers a little easier during one of the most difficult times the country has faced. We look forward to welcoming and accommodating as many workers as possible over the coming weeks.”

Professor Michael Griffin, president of the RSCEd and a leading surgeon, said: “We’ve heard and seen directly from our colleagues how severe the impact COVID-19 is on our health service.

“Having accommodation near hospitals to rest and recover from allows our colleagues to be looked after, at a time when they need the most support. We’re incredibly proud of the team at Surgeons Quarter and their invaluable efforts to help the health service.”