On Friday 6th March, John Whittingdale visited the new Crouch Vale Medical Centre in South Woodham Ferrers to meet members of Provide, which supplies community health and social care across Essex. These services include Essex Sexual Health Service, Physiotherapy, Children’s Speech and Language Therapy, Audiology, Mid Essex ENT (ear, nose and throat) Service as well as the District Nursing / Integrated Care Team (ICT).
John was given a tour of the new centre which also houses the three GP practices serving South Woodham Ferrers: Brickfield Surgery, Kingsway Surgery and Greenwood Surgery.
John was briefed on the preparations for dealing with suspected cases of Coronavirus (COVID-19) as Provide will be offering the Home Swabbing service for Mid Essex. John said: “I urge everyone to take precautions particularly by regular hand-washing for at least 20 seconds. If you are concerned that you may be suffering from Coronavirus or displaying symptoms, you should remain in your own home and call the NHS Helpline 111. Provide will visit you in your home to take swabs which will be sent to Broomfield or Cambridge laboratories for analysis. ”
