GP SURGERIES in Salisbury have joined forces to set up a Covid-19 assessment centre.

It has been set up by Harcourt Medical Centre, Salisbury Medical Practice and Three Chequers Medical Practice and will be staffed by GPs from the the three surgeries between 8am-8pm. Monday to Friday.

The centre is not available to walk in patients and patients are advised to continue to contact their own surgeries as usual and if necessary, they will be triaged again and offered a suitable appointment.

The location of the assessment centre has not been revealed by Sarum South Primary Care Network, which consists of Downton Surgery, Harcourt Medical Centre, Salisbury Medical Practice, Three Chequers Medical Practice and Whiteparish surgery.

At present, Downton and Whiteparish Surgeries have dedicated isolation rooms that may be used for patients with suspected Covid-19 symptoms.

Patients with non-Covid-19 symptoms are treated in different parts of the building and staff and patients are protected from any cross contamination.

The Sarum South Primary Care Network practices have been implementing the plans over the weekend to increase resilience and support the GPs to continue to give care to their patients.

Harcourt Medical Centre has temporarily moved out of its premises in Crane Bridge Road and will now be based out of the Bemerton Heath Surgery on Pembroke Road.

The network says patients should continue to call Harcourt Medical Centre on 01722 333214 where they will be assisted by the Harcourt team. Harcourt patients should not attend the premises in Crane Bridge Road and all documentation, including prescriptions and post now need to be re-directed to Bemerton Heath.

A spokesperson for Sarum South Primary Care Network said: "On behalf of Sarum South practices, we want to thank our patients, everyone in the community who has assisted with donations of PPE, volunteering their time to help others, and of course to our wonderful teams, whom without them, we would not be able to continue to offer the services we are. Thank you Salisbury! #StayHomeSaveLives."