A COVID-19 Assessment Centre opens today, Friday 26th March, at DGRI. This will link directly with the new advice line launched earlier this week.
The Assessment Centre is part of a pathway for anyone concerned about COVID-19 symptoms. In the first instance, anyone experiencing mild symptoms should look at the information relating to COVID-19 on the NHS Inform Website www.nhsinform.scot/coronavirus.
Should further advice or guidance be needed, they should call NHS24 on 111. Anyone requiring further assessment will be given access by NHS24 to the COVID-19 Community Hub.
The COVID-19 Community Hub will provide call handling, secondary triage and telephone advice for everyone across Dumfries and Galloway.
Should it be required, the COVID-19 Community Hub will refer patients to the COVID-19 Assessment Centre who will undertake assessment of COVID-19 patients with more serious symptoms.
Only those people that need to be admitted to hospital will be admitted.
This new pathway will help to protect GP capacity to provide care for people in the community with non-COVID healthcare needs.
It will also reduce demand on the Emergency Department in terms of those who would have otherwise presented with mild to moderate symptoms.