A COVID-19 assessment unit has opened on the campus of a north Dublin university.
DCU's Healthy Living centre is being used by the HSE to assist patients who need assessment but who do not need immediate hospital care.
Referral is only by GP and when they're seen at the unit, patients may be asked to return home, to enter isolation or to attend an acute hospital. An ambulance is always on standby.
The first patients were seen on the campus on April 16 and the number of appointments is expected to increase in the coming weeks.
DCU’s COO, Declan Raftery, said: “In a very short time period, a team of people from across the DCU community prepared the facilities required for review by the HSE. A clinical team visited at the beginning of April and they were delighted with the facility.
"The staff involved in getting these hubs set up and fully operational have done incredible work and it echoes efforts we are seeing from the DCU community in this time of crisis.”
President of Dublin City University Prof Brian MacCraith said: "DCU is proud to host this new centre and will continue to work with the HSE on this, and other initiatives, as part of our contribution to the national effort. The University's response has been made possible by the dedication and hard work of DCU staff.
"They have responded magnificently to the challenge through a range of activities such as volunteering for our Contact Tracing Centre and producing PPE for frontline workers."
