Professor Jason Leitch says he remains 'hopeful' the temporary hospital at the SEC will not need to be used.

Speaking on BBC's Good Morning Scotland, Scotland's National Clinical Director says he is "hugely grateful" for the work being done on the NHS Louisa Jordan.

More than 450 people began work inside the venue yesterday, which will have the capacity to provide up to 1000 beds to help the health service cope with COVID-19 demand.

Glasgow Times:

READ MORE: Coronavirus LIVE: Scotland's death toll hits 126 as work continues on SEC hospital

Professor Leitch said: "I’m astonished with the speed of work, not only there but with the whole of the health system.

"Everyone has stepped up and I’m hugely grateful. 

"It would be foolish that we didn’t prepare for a worse-case scenario and that is what we are doing with the Louisa Jordan.

"We had out first meeting yesterday with our new chief executives there, with builders, it is an amazing feat for 450 people yesterday to start that work.

"But I am hopeful if the population measures work, that we won’t need it.

"It will be ready but I am still hopeful the other work we are doing will make it unnecessary - but we have to plan as if we need it."

The hospital will provide an initial 300 beds to help deal with the outbreak, with the scope to increase the number of patients to 1,000 if necessary.

Glasgow Times:

READ MORE: SEC: Row emerges over 'Louisa Jordan Hospital' amid #NightingaleGlasgow 'snub'

It is believed the facility, announced earlier this week, will be ready to open in the next two weeks.

On Wednesday, Health Secretary Jeane Freeman said it will be named after Louisa Jordan, a First World War nurse from Glasgow who lost her life in Serbia.

The main contractors involved in the construction of NHS Louisa Jordan are Balfour Beatty Group, Kier Group, Robertson Group and Graham Construction.

Scottish health secretary Jeane Freeman previously said: “I want to send my sincere thanks to the many clinical, operational and construction staff who have been on-site at the SEC to construct this new NHS Scotland hospital.

“They are working together, under exceptional circumstances, to deliver a clinically safe and fit for purpose hospital that if required, will provide extra capacity for NHS Scotland.”

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