A FOUR-STAR Basingstoke hotel could be put back into use for extra hospital bed capacity if Covid-19 cases peak locally.

The Apollo Hotel, in Aldermaston Road, was transformed into a 125-bed facility to help support Basingstoke hospital as it dealt with the coronavirus pandemic.

It was planned for use as a place to monitor patients recovering from the virus.

Since the number of people being treated for Covid-19 has significantly dropped, the extra beds have not been needed, and The Apollo is planning to re-open as a hotel on September 6.

However, Nicola Decker, clinical chair of NHS North Hampshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), said it has a number of locations which could be called upon to provide extra bed capacity if the country is hit with a second wave of the virus.

She said: “Currently there are several locations with extra bed capacity in Hampshire still operating under government guidelines, and we have a plan in place to respond should Covid-19 cases peak locally, including a second wave.”

It is not known if The Apollo Hotel is one of these, because the CCG has declined to answer this question.

The Gazette has also asked the CCG how many patients were referred to the hotel; when it stopped being used for extra bed capacity; and how long the current arrangements will be in place. The CCG has declined to answer these questions.