Coronavirus ‘hot hub’ is scaled back after review
SITE WILL REMAIN IN PLACE AND BE USED IF NEEDED, SAY NHS BOSSES
A CORONAVIRUS assessment centre in Swadlincote has been scaled back as it is not being used every day.
The “hot hub” was set up by NHS Derby and Derbyshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) at the bus station, in Civic Way, Swadlincote, on April 13 around the peak of the pandemic.
It is not a coronavirus testing site but is used to assess ill patients with suspected Covid-19 symptoms.
However, the CCG has confirmed the site is not being opened on a daily basis.
The set-up will remain in place, however, so it can be used when it is needed.
A spokesman from the CCG said the decision was made after need for the site was reviewed. They said: “Swadlincote’s red/ hot hub is still in place and prepared to operate, should there be a need, but it is no longer running on a daily basis.
“Regular reviews of potential need are carried out so, depending on the fluid nature of patient requirements during the pandemic, it can be brought back into use almost immediately.”
The hub was set up to “support patients and hospitals”, according to the CCG. The stand-alone, open-air unit was open on an appointmentonly basis and was staffed by GPS, nurses and healthcare assistants.
It had a capacity to see up to 200 patients per day.
Signage was displayed allowing patients to access the site, transfer medical information about their appointment and then see clinicians at an allotted time, while remaining socially distanced.
No walk-in patients were allowed at the hub and it was not a testing facility for the virus.
This comes just after the coronavirus testing site in Burton was closed down. Based at the Pirelli Stadium, just off Princess Way, the site was deemed to no longer be needed and shut down.
Tests had been carried out at the site since April in the battle against the pandemic.
Although not open to the general public, NHS, care, council and other emergency service workers were able to see if they had contracted the virus via a test at the venue.