THE Red Clinic where patients are being assessed for coronavirus has been scaled down following a drop in demand.

Opening hours of the drive-in assessment centre on Dene Drive have been reduced and volunteer car park marshalls are no longer needed.

All five surgeries in Winsford worked together to set up the emergency facility at the beginning of April.

Dr Jonathan Griffiths, a GP at Swanlow practice, who has been working at the Red Clinic with doctors from across the town, said: "Because of the success of social distancing we have thankfully seen relatively small numbers of patients in our Red Clinic.

"We have therefore taken the decision to reduce the hours of operation and to stand down our car park marshals.

"We still retain the ability to see patients presenting with Covid-19 symptoms if required, and people should continue to call 111 if they have symptoms and are unable to manage them themselves."

Doctors and nurses wearing scrubs, aprons, gloves, masks and eye protection tended patients who were also asked to wear a mask.

"We would like to take the opportunity to thank the community for their compliance with government guidance to socially distance and isolate when appropriate," said Dr Griffiths.

"I should add that we retain the ability to increase capacity up again if the need were to arise, if there were to be a second wave for example."

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More than 40 residents volunteered to marshall cars in response to an urgent plea.

Northwich Guardian:

Volunteer marshalls Catherine Ashford and Rachel Stockton guide people to the Red Clinic

The team have been working on a rota to guide patients to the assessment centre.

Dr Griffiths added: "We would also like to thank everyone who has helped with this clinic - the car park marshals who were excellent, the Town Council and the Friends of Winsford Town Park."