Three patients from 100 referred to hospital since Covid-19 Assessment Centre in Leighton Buzzard opened

It's been five weeks since the centre was launched in late April at the Leighton Road Surgery site in Leighton Buzzard to aid the fight against the virus outbreak.

After hitting the 100th patient assessment mark this week, health chiefs have confirmed that just three people have been sent to hospital, with all three referred in the first two weeks.

A Leighton Buzzard Primary Care Network spokesman said: "The centre has been operating for the last five weeks and assessed its 100th patient this week. Other than three patients that were sent to hospital, all others have been assessed and sent home.

"The assessment centre will continue to operate for the foreseeable future and will be staffed by colleagues from the three practices in the town.

"The PCN would like to thank patients for their continued support in following the government and NHS guidelines of social distancing and self isolation."

The centre runs as a local specialist base for people who have, or are likely to have, the coronavirus infection. No other service is running from the site.

It is intended for patients registered at any of the Leighton Buzzard GP practices and is now open from 4pm to 6pm every weekday.

It has been developed as a town-wide initiative in cooperation with all three GP practices in town and is being staffed by nurses and doctors from all the practices.

However patients are not to arrive at the Assessment Centre unless they are directed to do so by their GP.

Leighton Buzzard Primary Care Network has stressed it is vital that patients follow the government guidelines and adhere to social distancing.

If a patient believes that they may have Covid symptoms, they should stay at home and call 111. This is the first line of advise for any Covid-related symptoms.

The 111 service can then book onto one of the respective GP practices’ appointment slots for a second triage.

The GP practice will then book the patient into the assessment centre if appropriate and if the clinician feels that the patient is at risk of Covid and needs a face-to-face assessment.

After assessment they are treated and sent home or admitted hospital if sufficiently unwell.

If patients are given an appointment at the assessment centre, they are not to use public transport but to use their own transport and also to be accompanied in case they are directed to hospital.