Coronavirus fears as patient walks into Eastbourne GP practice

An individual who has been identified as a possible coronavirus patient walked into an Eastbourne GP on Wednesday (March 11).
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

Grove Road Surgery was forced to close and underwent a deep clean after the incident early in the morning.

The local NHS group said, to protect members of the public, the individual was kept in isolation away from public areas and returned home also in isolation.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

In line with Public Health England guidelines, the surgery was closed for cleaning that morning.

Signs in Grove Road surgery window say: 'STOP: If you have flu-luike symptoms go back home and contact NHS 111'Signs in Grove Road surgery window say: 'STOP: If you have flu-luike symptoms go back home and contact NHS 111'
Signs in Grove Road surgery window say: 'STOP: If you have flu-luike symptoms go back home and contact NHS 111'

Once the cleaning was complete, the practice reopened later that day.

A spokesperson for Eastbourne Hailsham and Seaford CCG said, “Patients and staff can be reassured that their safety is the top priority, and patients are encouraged to attend all appointments as usual.”

It is understood similar incidents have happened in a number of GP practises across Eastbourne.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

This is despite most surgeries putting up signs in windows and answerphone messages advising people not to enter, but to instead contact NHS 111.

On Tuesday Public Health England experts were called in to Eastbourne police custody centre in Hammonds Drive.

Sussex Police said a detainee reported feeling unwell but has provided no further information.

As of today (March 12) there were no confirmed cases of coronavirus, or COVID-19, in East Sussex, three in West Sussex, and eight in Brighton and Hove.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

To date 590 people have tested positive for the virus across the UK, and it is understood 10 people have died so far.

This week the virus was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organisation, but people are advised not to panic.

The advice from the NHS is to regularly wash your hands, cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze, and try to avoid close contact with people who are unwell.