Hopwood Medical Centre closed for cleaning after potential coronavirus exposure

Hopwood Medical Centre in Heywood closed on Friday (6 March) after a patient who may have coronavirus attended the centre.

A spokesperson for NHS HMR Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) said: “An individual who has been identified as a possible Coronavirus (Covid-19) case recently attended Hopwood Medical Centre in Heywood.

“In line with Public Health England (PHE) guidance, Hopwood Medical Centre is temporarily closed for cleaning to remove any potential risk for patients.

“Once the cleaning is complete, the practice will reopen. Patients and staff can be reassured that their safety is the top priority. 

“Patients with appointments booked today will be contacted and offered a telephone consultation as an alternative, patients requiring an urgent appointment today should call the practice in the usual way and an appointment will be arranged for them in an appropriate setting.

“We’d like to reassure people that the risk to the general public remains low and the majority of cases are mild. Rochdale Council is working with health colleagues to do everything we can to contain the virus and ensure the people of Rochdale are protected.  

“Importantly for patients in the borough who may be used to a sit and wait (open clinics) appointment system at their practice, we ask that you ring the practice first to ensure that this system is still in place.”

As of 9am on 6 March 2020, 20,338 people have been tested in the UK, of which 20,175 were confirmed negative and 163 were confirmed as positive.

One patient who tested positive for COVID-19 has died.

COVID-19 was first identified in Wuhan, China, and increasing cases are being seen across the world.

As a group, coronaviruses are common across the world. Typical symptoms of coronavirus include fever and a cough that may progress to a severe pneumonia causing shortness of breath and breathing difficulties.

The main symptoms of novel coronavirus are flu-like symptoms, including a cough, a high temperature and shortness of breath.

If you think you may have coronavirus please DO NOT go to a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital.

Anyone who is suspected to have coronavirus is asked to call 111, stay indoors and avoid close contact with other people.

For more information, visit: 

• www.gov.uk/coronavirus
• www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/