A special “drive-thru” coronavirus assessment centre with capacity to see 150 patients a day has opened in Dover as part of a wider rollout of sites across Kent.

Located in Maison Dieu Road, the centre is only accessible to people if they have been referred by their GP,

Patients will drive into bays at the centre and remain in their cars as they're assessed by doctors and nurses. Advice will given with some sent home to isolate.

Those who need more assistance may be moved to a clinical room where they will be further assessed while the most seriously ill will be transferred straight to hospital via an ambulance.

Dr Julian Mead, clinical director of Total Healthcare Excellence PCN (East), said that during the first three days no patients have been sent directly to hospital.

He said: "The first few days have been focused on understanding how things will work in practice and steps that can be taken to improve the effectiveness of the service.

"The team has been fully engaged and it has been seen as a very positive experience that this could be mobilised in such a short period of time."

'Together, we will beat this'

Dover & Deal MP Natalie Elphicke has been supporting the Total Healthcare Excellence PCN on the project – as has Dover District Council, whose officers are helping with parking operations at the site.

Mrs Elphicke, who visited the new centre which opened on Monday, said: "I want to say a huge thank you to our local GPs who have been working so hard to get this assessment centre up and running, including all over the Easter weekend.

“Much of the current focus is on hospitals, but the role of the GP practice is also a vital part of the national fight against the virus.

“Across our area, local doctors and health practice staff are working tirelessly to keep people well, particularly those with long term managed conditions, as well as being on the corona frontline.

“I want to pay special tribute to our GPs, practice nurses and local frontline health professionals who work tirelessly to keep us all as safe and healthy as possible at this time.

“We must keep going. We must continue to be disciplined and look out for each other.

“Together, we will beat this.”

Patients showing symptoms of coronavirus should contact NHS 111 online in the first instance.

If they don’t have access to the internet they should call 111. Patients will then be transferred from NHS 111 to their GP practice.

The assessment centre is strictly appointment-only for patients who have been directed by their GP practice. The clinical team will only operate when sufficient PPE is available.

No patient will be able to report directly to the assessment centre without being referred.

The Dover site is similar to another drive thru site that has been set up in Whitstable and a Covid-19 assessment centre in Herne Bay.

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