A COVID-19 assessment centre has been set up in Helensburgh.

The Victoria Integrated Care Centre, on East King Street, will be available by appointment only for people displaying coronavirus symptoms and who receive an allotted time from the NHS.

Health chiefs have repeated that anybody displaying symptoms of the virus, which currently has the UK in almost a lockdown state, should first consult the NHS online.

If symptoms worsen, you should call NHS 24 on 111 and a telephone assessment will be carried out. Patients will then be referred to the community assessment centre if deemed necessary.

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The centre is one of a number being set up around Argyll and Bute as the battle against the virus continues.

A spokesperson for the Argyll and Bute Health and Social Care Partnership said: “These centres have been opened to help with the assessment of people with Covid-19 symptoms and are solely for people who have been given an appointment.

“They will be staffed by clinicians and people attending will receive treatment plans, including medication, and/or prescriptions, and will be told to self-isolate.

“If they need to go to hospital this will be arranged at the centre.  Please note that they will not be providing testing facilities.

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“We would remind the public that if you, or someone you care for, develops symptoms of COVID-19 then please use the NHS Inform website (www.nhsinform.scot) or the dedicated information line (0800 028 2816).

“If your symptoms worsen and can’t be managed at home, then please call NHS 24 on 111 where you will be asked a number of questions.

“If required, the NHS 24 call handler will pass your call to a telephone community hub, staffed by clinicians, who carry out a full telephone assessment.

“If necessary, you will then be given an appointment for a face to face consultation at your nearest community assessment centre.”

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