Two coronavirus assessment centres set up in Sunderland - but patients must NOT attend without a referral

The units were launched in Sunderland yesterday and have already started to offer extra help and advice to those who have long-term health conditions or underlying issues.

But the NHS has stressed people must only attend if referred by their own GP and sent out the message people should NOT turn up without an appointment and confirmed they do not offer the chance to be tested for COVID-19.

It has said the locations of the centres are not being made public as it does not want people to attend without a referral. However, visitors have already tried to be seen, causing issues for the staff who must concentrate their efforts in treating those on its register.

The centres’ doors are locked and people not due to attend will be turned away by the teams.

An NHS spokesperson said: “New COVID-19 patient assessment units in Sunderland are not what people think they are.

“Sunderland residents are mistakenly turning up to new COVID-19 patient assessment centres thinking that they are community testing sites.

“The two new local COVID-19 Patient Assessment Centres have been set up within Sunderland for the sole purpose of examining potential coronavirus patients face-to-face and only if the patient has been referred there by a GP.

“The assessment centres will not see ‘walk-ins’ and they are not coronavirus community testing sites.

“This new service has been set up for those patients who do not require acute hospital care but need treatment and monitoring for their symptoms and any other related health conditions that may need to be managed.

“The new assessment units will ensure that patients who have been referred by a GP or NHS 111 are seen to in a safe and controlled environment to prevent further transmission of the virus.”

The service added if anyone experiencing symptoms should use 111.nhs.uk/covid-19/.

Anyone not online can phone 111, not go to a GP, pharmacy or hospital.

Pallion’s urgent treatment centre remains open to walk-in patients for minor illnesses and injury only, with people told to not attend if they think they have coronavirus symptoms.

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