Patients with coronavirus symptoms can be assessed in Borehamwood after a new centre was set up.

A temporary patient assessment centre, run by the NHS, has been built in Allum Manor’s car park in Allum Lane.

The centre, which is appointment only, is for patients with Covid-19 symptoms to be seen and checked over by a GP or nurse – meaning patients do not have to attend their own surgery.

There was a similar centre earlier in the pandemic in Elstree Way, but it closed in August to allow other services at the clinic to return.

However, Allum Manor has given up a section of its car park, free of charge, to allow the service to return to Elstree and Borehamwood.

The centre, which is not a place where people can get tested to see if they have Covid-19, opened earlier this week. It will be open Monday to Friday from 1pm until 6pm, and is set to stay in place until at least March.

People can only attend the centre if they have been referred by their GP or NHS 111, because they may have a slightly more severe Covid-19 infection, but do not necessarily require hospital treatment.

Strict controls are in place at the patient assessment centre to restrict any spread of coronavirus.

Staff work in a restricted area of the car park which is blocked off from public use, while any patients must travel to their appointment by car and park in a designated space only.

A security officer will check that patients entering the site have an appointment and will turn away anyone who does not, and a full-time cleaner employed by the NHS will ensure the centre is cleaned between visits by patients.

Dr Kate Page, senior partner at Fairbrook Medical Centre, and Hertsmere locality chairman for Herts Valleys Clinical Commissioning Group, said: "Patient assessment centres are led by GPs and are an important part of our response to Covid-19.

"They provide dedicated support for Covid-19 patients in the community – allowing GP practices to focus on helping patients with health issues that aren’t related to Covid-19.

"We’re extremely grateful to the Allum Manor trustees for giving up part of their car park so that we can support local patients."

On behalf of Allum Manor trustees, Bob Redman said: "We’ve already hosted blood donor clinics during 2020 and naturally we wanted to continue to support the NHS by hosting the new centre

"We have worked closely with the CCG to make sure that there are comprehensive measures in place to keep the patient centre entirely separate from Allum Manor so that it poses no risk to our staff and guests."