A coronavirus clinic will open in a Harrogate community centre next week and will be in place until January next year.
The Jennyfield Styan Community Centre in Grantley Drive will enable those with coronavirus or symptoms to see a GP face-to-face.
Currently, patients with covid-19 who need an in person appointment attend their own surgery.
While other surgeries have strict safety measures in place, doctors have been pushing for a dedicated site.
GPs and part-time doctors will begin seeing patients next week between 12pm and 6pm on Mondays to Fridays.
Read more:
- Several hundred people miss early cancer diagnosis in Yorkshire
- 863 covid cases in Harrogate district so far this month
- North Knaresborough and central Harrogate are local covid hotspots
Appointments will alternate between the two rooms, enabling a deep clean between each patient.
Patients will be asked to wait in their vehicle on arrival, wear a face covering and keep hands sanitised, before they are escorted to the appointment.
If the patient requires medication then they will get an electronic prescription sent directly to the patient’s usual pharmacy.
NHS North Yorkshire CCG and the Yorkshire Health Network secured the community centre from Harrogate Borough Council.
The CCG’s clinical chair, Dr Charles Parker, said:
“This additional capacity will be of enormous benefit to practices. It will help ensure surgeries can continue to meet the demands of a busy winter period.”
Councillor Richard Cooper, leader of Harrogate Borough Council, said:
“Jennyfield Styan Community Centre plays a vital part of the community for so many, and now more than ever.
“I hope the NHS can make use of the facility and provide much needed GP appointments for those that so desperately need them.”