SPECIAL 'hubs' have been set up in Reading to assist locals showing symptoms of coronavirus who don't need immediate hospital treatment.

One is at the Walk in Centre in Reading's Broad Street Mall and the second is being opened in a specially adapted and contained space at Newbury Racecourse East entrance.

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These will only be available to patients who have already gone through a structured medical assessment.

Anyone starting to show the coronavirus symptoms of a constant cough and/or high temperature, will still initially be asked to self isolate for seven days and seek advice from NHS 111 online if required.

Patients will then be referred on to their GP practice and/or one of the hubs where appropriate.

The new hubs are being organised by health officials from the Berkshire West Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) in partnership with local GPs.

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They will ease the burden on other healthcare facilities and free up hospital doctors to deal with more urgent coronavirus cases.

The Reading and Wokingham Primary Care Hub at the Walk in Centre will be open seven days a week from 8am to 8pm.

Patients who are registered at the centre are being temporarily moved to the neighbouring Milman Road surgery.

No walk in care will be available at the centre at this time.

In West Berkshire, the hub will be in the first aid room at the East entrance to Newbury Race course.

It will open Monday to Friday from 10am to 4pm, initially.

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Full details of the hubs and how they will operate will be on the CCG website.

Cathy Winfield, Chief Officer for the CCG said: "This virus is placing huge, constant and ever changing demands on our healthcare services both within GP surgeries, and at our local hospitals.

“These hubs will be specifically for patients who have, or are likely to have, Coronavirus and will not be able to cater for the public looking for general medical support.

“The advice to these people is very clear – if you have the constant cough and/or high temperature you must stay at home, keep your distance from other people in the house and contact the 111 online service if you want extra advice,” she added.