Dictionary

Nightingale court en · NOUN

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.

Meanings

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.
   • 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 September 22, “Lowry Theatre lands new role as Nightingale court”, in The Daily Telegraph, page 4:
   • 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. 2020 December 3, “‘Nightingale Court’ may open next month”, in The Gloucestershire Echo, page 5:
   • 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.” 2021 March 25, Matt Jarram, “Hotel is ‘Nightingale Court’”, in Nottingham Evening Post, page 6:
   • 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. 2023 February 20, “Nightingale court to continue”, in South Wales Evening Post, Swansea, page 8:

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