Patients who are due to come into Walsall Manor Hospital for a planned procedure will be asked to use a new drive through swabbing unit as part of their pre-assessment, from next week.

The drive through swab test assessment unit will open on Monday 5 October and is being set up in Pleck Road, opposite the main hospital entrance.

All patients who are due to come into hospital for an elective procedure or attend an outpatient appointment for a procedure will be contacted and given an appointment time to attend for a swab test, along with details about what to expect.

Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust Outpatients Matron Joan Dyer said: “We have organised our services to minimise the risk of people coming into contact with coronavirus and as part of these ongoing efforts we have set up this drive through swab test assessment unit.”

“It is a drive through facility that it is separate to the hospital and patients will be invited strictly by appointment only to attend. They will remain in their vehicle until directed to wind down their window for the test and will not, at any point, leave their vehicle. The swab is in addition to patients being advised to self-isolate for 14 days prior to their admission date (unless it’s an urgent case) and is being introduced to reduce their risk of contracting the virus before their planned procedure.”

Joan added that test results would be communicated to patients within 24 hours.

She said: “We are also reminding anyone who is experiencing Covid-19 symptoms which are a new, continuous cough, high temperature or sudden loss of or change in taste and smell not to come to the hospital for their planned procedure and to ensure they contact the team whose care they are under. Please help us to help you stay safe and well.”