Two of Newcastle's urgent treatment centres are set to close to the public as the NHS reorganises its services to manage the coronavirus outbreak locally.
Westgate Urgent Treatment Centre (at the old General Hospital site on Westgate Road) and Molineux Street Urgent Treatment Centre, in Byker, will close from 10pm on Sunday, April 5, 2020.
For patients needing to attend an urgent treatment centre for non-Covid-19-related health needs, Ponteland Road Urgent Treatment Centre remains open from 8am to 10pm every day, at 169 Ponteland Road.
NHS England says this change will enable it to "deploy staff and buildings more effectively", claiming the number of patients attending urgent treatment centres has dropped substantially during the outbreak.
Over the coming days, a number of NHS sites across the city will be totally designated as treatment clinics to care for patients who are referred by their GP practice for Covid-19 assessment or treatment but who do not require hospital admission.
These clinics will ONLY see patients who have been referred to them by their practice or NHS 111. Patients must not turn up to these sites without a booked appointment.
If you have symptoms of coronavirus (a high temperature or a new, continuous cough), use the NHS 111 coronavirus service at www.111.nhs.uk/covid-19, call NHS 111 free, or phone your GP practice. Please do not attend your practice in person.
If you have symptoms of Covid-19, your GP will assess you by phone or video link and then advise you on the course of action you should follow.
This could be to self-isolate, or where necessary they may refer you to a Covid-19 treatment clinic for further assessment and treatment. There are arrangements in place for patients who are not able to travel, including people who live in care homes.
For other health needs not related to Covid-19, you can get information and advice from these sources:
The NHS website at nhs.uk
NHS 111 online at 111.nhs.uk
Phoning your GP practice
For life-threatening emergencies, call 999 for an ambulance
