Kentish Express Ashford & District
County makes preparations for ‘worst-case scenario’
A temporary morgue is due to be built to store the dead in a “worst-case scenario” as Kent scales up its planning for the effects of the coronavirus pandemic.
The site will be at the former county workshops in Beddow Way, Aylesford. It will take about two weeks to complete and the plans are being worked on by Kent County Council (KCC).
A spokesman confirmed it would only be used if existing mortuary space around Kent becomes full. No post-mortems will take place there.
They also stressed the priority would be to maintain dignity and respect for those who have lost their lives and consideration for the bereaved.
The spokesman added: “KCC has a statutory responsibility to take the lead in responding to humanitarian impacts resulting from an emergency and has been working through the Kent Resilience Forum’s Excess Deaths Management Group.”
“The group brings together organisations including Public Health England, the NHS, coroners, police, funeral directors and faith groups.
“As with every emergency planning team in the country, the Excess Deaths Management Group has to plan for the worstcase scenario and be prepared to implement any necessary contingency plans.”
A marquee with a floor space of 1,000sq m will be put up in one part of the site and security and privacy hoardings will be put in place.
If called upon, the premises is
likely to be operated around the clock, seven days a week.
Several of the county’s significant public buildings, such as schools and leisure centres, are now being used as drive-through centres for those who have coronavirus
symptoms and need to see a doctor.
Centres in Whitstable, Maidstone, Headcorn and Tonbridge have been created.
Pictures show a large-scale facility at Estuary View Medi
cal Centre in Whitstable, which could see and treat up to 100 patients a day. Those who have symptoms will be met by staff in two small portable cabins, which act as check-in booths. It is due to open this week. Another centre was set up at Headcorn Aerodome, to take pressure off GP surgeries in the area, while tents were put up in the car park of Maidstone Leisure Centre, near Mote Park and Tonbridge School is also being used for the same purpose.
The sites are not used to test people for signs of the virus.
Kent’s GP surgeries are now known as ‘hot’ or ‘cold’ sites under the new Kent and Medway Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) which plans and buys healthcare.
Many doctors are now offering remote consultations over the phone or via video call. But if someone needs to visit a surgery, they will be split into ‘hot’ sites, like the drive-through centres, to treat potential Covid19 patients, or ‘cold’ sites – for those who don’t have any virus symptoms and whose household are free of symptoms.
Dr Julian Spinks, vice-chairman of Kent Local Medical Committee, added: “We are trying to centralise all services and share resources because smaller practices may not have enough staff to cope as the virus gets worse.
“Many doctors are still able to work but are self-isolating so can only do consultations from home. The hot and cold sites will minimise the chances of cross-contamination as much as possible.”
The new Kent and Medway CCG combines eight separate clinical commissioning groups.