"Valuble lesson to be learned" after NI's first COVID-19 centre temporarily closes due to staff isolating

by Gráinne Connolly

Northern Ireland's first COVID-19 assessment centre was forced to close temporarily at the weekend due to staffing issues, as 40 nurses were in self-isolation.

The GP-led centre opened at Altnagelvin Hospital in Derry/Londonderry last Wednesday to deal with coronavirus patients only and to free up other GP's to deal with other patients.

The centre has re-opened today. 

A spokesperson for the Western Health and Social Care Trust said, "The Western Trust, with our  GP colleagues and the Health and Social Care Board (HSCB) took the decision to temporarily close the COVID-19  Assessment Centre at Altnagelvin Hospital on Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 March

" It is our priority that when the centre is open that we are providing care to our patients in a safe, effective and timely manner.

"Due to some early staffing issues, the centre was closed during the weekend. We are confident that these issues will be rectified shortly and we will be open again from Monday 30 March.

“We apologise to our patients and thank them for their cooperation at this difficult time.”

Meanwhile, Doctor Tom Black, the Chair of the British Medical Association says measures are being put in place to ensure the centre is not forced to close again. 

He said they are widening the staff pool incase staff are isolating and can't work and more tests are being carried out on health and social care workers. 

Dr. Black said this is a "valuable lesson" for the centre in Derry/Londonderry and others across Northern Ireland. 

Three new COVID-19 assessment centres have opened in Belfast, Banbridge and Dungannon today and two more will open in Ballymena and Enniskillen tomorrow. 

Over the coming week, fourteen are expected to be up and running in Northern Ireland.