Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Covid care clinic marks impressive milestone
An NHS Lanarkshire clinic providing Covid care in a community setting has recently marked the milestone of seeing 10,000 patients in 12 months.
The health board’s acute respiratory illness centre (ARIC) was set up to provide a way of seeing patients with confirmed or potential Covid in a safe environment, away from GP surgeries and emergency departments.
Medics at the Hamilton-based facility, which is open 24/7, have taken 30,000 calls since last March and see up to 50 patients per day for face-to-face assessments when clinically required.
The majority of those seen are people who are not getting better after self-care at home or whose Covid symptoms are worsening; some patients are transferred from the centre to accident and emergency if they are very unwell, with 187 people being transferred to hospital last month.
Clinical lead Dr Mike Coates told how the ARIC largely sees patients with “Coviddefining symptoms”, saying: “A significant number are known to have Covid, some might have Covid and some turn out not to have it – the important thing is that anyone who needs to be seen, is seen.
“We’re seeing lots of elderly patients but equally a lot of very unwell younger people.
The biggest challenge has been the volume of patients we’re seeing and the medical complexity of the cases as there’s such a vast range of symptoms that people present with.”
Although patient numbers at the centre are now beginning to decline slightly, he added that “there is no room for complacency”, saying: “We are still seeing a lot of very unwell people, every day of the week.
“My advice would be to stick to the government’s advice – be patient – and if we all work together to reduce Covid transmission by sticking to the rules, we can all get out of this sooner.”
Dr Coates added: “It’s very good for us as GPS and clinicians still to be able to see patients face-to-face, albeit in difficult circumstances; and we’re lucky to have a fantastic team of dedicated staff, with a very varied skillset.
“The whole-team aspect is the best bit of working in the centre – and I mean everyone, from our incredible domestic staff to the volunteer drivers from Lifesavers charity, who bring in patients without their own transport.”
Anyone who thinks they may have Covid-19 symptoms should self-isolate and arrange an immediate test by calling 0800 028 2816 or booking at www.nhsinform.scot/testand-protect; while more information on local services is available at www.nhslanarkshire. scot.nhs.uk/experts/