Nightingale court

English

Etymology

Derived from the establishment of temporary hospitals to house the surplus of patients created by the COVID-19 pandemic, the first being NHS Nightingale in Canning Town, East London. Ultimately named after British nursing pioneer Florence Nightingale.

Noun

Nightingale court (plural Nightingale courts)

1. (UK, neologism) A temporary court in England and Wales established to deal with the backlog of legal cases brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic that began in 2020.
   • 2020 September 22, “Lowry Theatre lands new role as Nightingale court”, in The Daily Telegraph, page 4:

     The Lowry Theatre in Manchester is to be turned into a Nightingale court as part of the Government's bid to clear a 500,000-case backlog.

   • 2020 December 3, “‘Nightingale Court’ may open next month”, in The Gloucestershire Echo, page 5:

     CIRENCESTER’S former magistrates court will become a ‘Nightingale Court’ to help deal with the hearing backlog. There are more than 1,000 criminal cases are waiting to be heard in Gloucestershire – a record high and a number that has more than doubled since the start of the pandemic.

   • 2021 March 25, Matt Jarram, “Hotel is ‘Nightingale Court’”, in Nottingham Evening Post, page 6:

     The Mercure Nottingham Sherwood Hotel, in Mansfield Road, has become a “Nightingale Court”, which the Ministry of Justice said will “free up the Crown Court for more jury trials.”

   • 2023 February 20, “Nightingale court to continue”, in South Wales Evening Post, Swansea, page 8:

     MOST nightingale courts in England and Wales – including the one in Swansea – will be kept open for another year in a bid to cut backlogs of cases and reduce the time victims spend waiting for justice.