Coronavirus: Take A Behind The Scenes Look At Covid-19 Assessment Centre in Swadlincote With A Site Volunteer

Stuart Bonser and his partner Rachel Ridgill have been working as a volunteers at the recently opened Covid-19 Assessment Centre in Swadlincote.

They did their first stint last week at the site which was built in just 24 hours and is situated on the car park next to Swadlincote bus station.

And Stuart, chairman of Ashby Ivanhoe Football Club, told Swadlincote Nub News just how smoothly the operation is working.

They volunteered to 'do their bit' at the Drive-Through Medical Triage Assessment for COVID 19, during a time when the country is fighting to contain Coronavirus,

Stuart said: "I went last Thursday to help out at the assessment centre. It's been driven by parts of the surgeries in South Derbyshire including the one at Swadlincote.

"It came out on social media they were looking for volunteers to help man the station.

"In fact it was my partner who registered us was - I think they're still looking for volunteers to cover shifts. They do two a day. One in the morning and one in the evening. One of the principles behind it is to assess people so as not to send them to hospital.

"The GP speak to you by telephone, and you get an appointment to go to the drive-in centre. The doctors do their tests and away they go.

"There were about half a dozen others when I was there, including members of the local running club there.

"It was very well organised, even though there were only two appointments that evening. Which is actually a nice thing, you don't really want loads of people coming in, that's not a good sign is it? The fewer the people the better, so that was a positive.

"It well organised by Michelle from the surgery and Dave Clemson, he was the supervisor of the event.

"We have another shift on Tuesday, so we'll be there again helping out, we get protective equipment and I kept well away from anybody who appears to be vulnerable.

"The briefing beforehand was excellent.

"I'm simply there to organise, it's only those who are showing signs that get an appointment to go. There are four bays there so they could take four sets of patients if needed at once."

Stuart admits he got a mixed reaction when he told people he planned to be part of the facility.

But he said: 'I'm one of those people who thinks, if everybody can do their little bit, then the sooner we can come through it quicker and better'.

"Myself and my other half are used to volunteering, both at netball and football.

"It was something that didn't faze us. I spoke to a couple of people about doing I and they raised their eyebrows, in terms of: 'Are you really going to do that?' - and I said: 'Why not. It's a safe environment, it's well organised and there really is no reason why anybody shouldn't want to help the frontline staff if they can'.

"I'm sure people can find out more if they want to do it from the Heartwood Surgery.

"We've got to meet one of the doctors at the practice and he was extremely grateful to us for volunteering. It was a nice experience to be part of."