The Excel centre's Abu Dhabi-based owners have backed down on plans to bill the NHS up to £3million-a-month for using their centre as a hospital to treat coronavirus patients.

Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company, Adnec, said in a statement it would scrap a 'contribution to some fixed costs' that had been demanded from the NHS in an initial agreement.

The NEC in Birmingham, owned by American private equity giant Blackstone, and the Manchester Central Complex both said they would not charge the NHS for using their facilities as a Nightingale hospital.

The ExCel centre, owned by Ahu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company, reversed its decision to charge the NHS up to £3million-a-month to use its facility

The centre has been converted into an NHS Nightingale hospital to house 4,000 patients

Jeremy Rees (left) is the CEO of London's ExCel centre. The ExCel centre's owner is the Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company. Its managing director is Humaid Matar Al Dhaheri (right)

The NHS had been 'desperate' to secure a big venue when it signed for the ExCel centre in London as hospitals were being overwhelmed with patients, reports the Sunday Times.

'If you want to do that deal, you haven't got much time to negotiate,' said an individual.

A second added: 'This all had to happen so fast and the ExCel had everyone over a barrel. There will be a moral reckoning over this.'

But after the deal was reported the ExCel rowed back on its initial agreement.

Chief executive of the centre Jeremy Rees, who formerly ran the Earls Court & Olympia Group, said they had decided to 'join the national effort to combat coronavirus immediately and worked in close partnership with the NHS'.

'The ExCel London facility is fully available to the NHS and we are here to support all their needs and requirements during this crisis,' he said.

Adnec's board includes the former Conservative defence secretary Lord King of Bridgwater (left) and former Conservative transport minister Steven Norris (right)

Birmingham's NEC centre, owned by American private equity giant Blackstone, has been offered to NHS England for free

The managing director of Adnec, Humaid Matar Al Dhaheri, said that protecting people and saving lives is 'of the utmost importance as we face this unprecedented global pandemic'.

'We are doing all that we can to help the UK through these challenging times,' he said. 'We stand in solidarity with Britain in facing this crisis together, as friends and partners.'

The centre's board includes former Conservative defence secretary, Lord King of Bridgwater, and the former Conservative transport minister, Steven Norris, according to filings with Companies House.

It made a £31million profit before tax last year, according to its accounts. London's ExCel was opened in 2000 and purchased by Adnec eight years later.

It was converted into a Nightingale hospital in nine days to house 4,000 patients within 80 wards, making it one of the largest in the world.

Prince Charles officially opened the hospital on April 3 and said he hoped it would bring a message of 'hope for those who will need it most'.

The Manchester Central convention centre is pictured above. Its owners said they would not charge the NHS for using it as a Nightingale hospital

The NEC in Birmingham has not charged the NHS for using its facility. Its owner's head of European Private Equity, Lionel Assant, said: 'Like the rest of the country, we want to help in any way we can during this crisis.

'This includes putting the entire NEC facility at the disposal of the NHS for as long as it needs it.'

The Manchester Central Complex, which will also be used for an NHS Nightingale hospital, said it would not be charging the NHS.

Nightingale hospitals are also planned for the University of the West of England in Bristol, and the Harrogate Convention Centre.

Mr Rees told the Sunday Times that the ExCel would 'in no way profit from NHS Nightingale'.

He told the publication: 'As a responsible business, ExCel London is proud to play its part in the national effort to defeat the coronavirus and respond to the largest national emergency the country has faced in a generation.

'Our focus is solely to give the NHS and its wonderful staff all the support they need to protect people and lives.'

The Excel Centre told the publication that the agreement between NHS England and itself is 'confidential' and that it would not comment on rent payments.

An NHS England spokesman said the health service is 'pulling out all the stops to save as many lives as possible'.

'We are grateful for all the help we have received including from the public, charities and companies,' they said.

'The NHS has responded to (coronavirus) with unprecedented action: Freeing up 33,000 beds, striking a deal with the independent sector to get 8,000 more and working with the military to build the first Nightingale hospital in a matter of days.'

A statement from Mr Rees issued when the ExCel centre was turned into a hospital stated: 'Our country is facing the largest national emergency for a generation and our thoughts and sympathies are with those who are personally affected by this situation.

'It is crucial that everyone plays their part in the national effort, working with the government to combat the spread of the coronavirus and save lives.'

Britain recorded its darkest day so far during the pandemic yesterday, registering 708 further deaths, bringing its total to 4,313. A further 3,735 coronavirus cases were also identified, bringing the total to 41,903.

Today Britain's death toll surged by 621 to 4,934, and the number of confirmed cases rose by 5,903 to 47,806.