A NEWTON Abbot surgery is today being temporarily transformed into a specialist site to treat coronavirus patients.

Cricketfield Surgery will treat patients who either have COVID-19 symptoms or are self-isolating as family members have symptoms butstill need routine medical care.

Patients normally seen at the Cricketfield Surgery can now go to the Albany Surgery, off East Street, where the GP practice has relocated.

A spokesman said: ‘We apologise if this causes inconvenience for our patients.

‘Our building was chosen because of its central location and car park access and we are more than happy to help in any way we can.

‘Therefore, we are fully supportive of Devon’s Clinical Commissioning Group’s plans to help fight the coronavirus and provide care to all patients in the safest way possible.

‘There will be robust safety measures in place for staff and patients and it will be kept within Cricketfield Surgery grounds so will not impact on local residents or users of the public car park.

‘Hopefully within a couple of months we will be able to return to our Cricketfield home and start reintroducing normal working practices.’

The spokesman added: ‘We will be operating as we are now with a closed door, triage first protocol in place but if we do need to see you then you will be asked to come to the Albany Surgery and state you are a Cricketfield patient.

“To contact us there you will use the same number you always have, 01626 208020, and you will be speaking to a member of the Cricketfield Surgery team, although we continue to ask those who can, to use either the NHS App or eConsult to help ease phoneline pressures.

“Despite the change in the way we work, our closed door and temporary relocation we are keen to get the message out to you all that we are still here for you. If you think you need to see a GP or nurse then contact us, it is really important to keep taking care of your health.

“We will prioritise and we will do what we can remotely via phone or video consultation but if we think it’s necessary, we will ask you to come and see us. Everywhere is cleaned frequently, staff will be wearing protective clothing and other protocols are in place to protect patients and staff.

“We are also still providing baby immunisations, wound dressings, blood tests and other routine nursing care.’