The news that Hexham General Hospital is being used to treat people suffering from coronavirus means that it is playing a key role in ensuring patients receive the best care possible.

We already show our admiration for NHS staff on a weekly basis by applauding their efforts across the nation.

And the excellent facilities at Hexham will also hopefully bring comfort to the families involved that their loved ones are in one the best places possible.

Hexham General is an outstanding hospital in so many ways. From the moment you walk in you feel reassured.

The executive medical director for Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, Dr Jeremy Rushmer, this week described staff and hospitals across Northumberland and North Tyneside as a family.

And Hexham’s role in that family will help to ensure our local NHS facilities and staff are well prepared to meet the challenges caused by the current pandemic.