IN order to support the response to the coronavirus outbreak, Bridgewater Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, will stop or partially stop the delivery of a number of its community services.

Some adults and children’s services are being suspended with immediate effect for at least three months.

This will enable staff to support the response to coronavirus in Warrington.

This decision has been taken reluctantly as staff work hard to protect services for some of the most vulnerable patients.

Colin Scales, chief executive of Bridgwater Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust said: “As the chief medical officer has stated, NHS services are likely to come under intense pressure as the coronavirus spreads, and we need to ensure that our staff and resources are geared towards supporting the local response to coronavirus at this time.

“Therefore, in line with well-established plans for situations like this, we have been asked by NHS England to stop or partially stop the delivery of a number of our community services with immediate effect for a period of at least three months.

“Urgent care services and those for vulnerable adults and children will be carrying on as normal, but we know many of our patients, service users and their families will be disappointed or worried, and we will be contacting everyone affected by either telephone or letter as soon as possible.”

If you have any urgent concerns about your condition as a result of this change contact the Patient Services team via email at bchft.patientservices@nhs.net in the first instance or call 0800 587 0562.

A full list of services is available at www.bridgewater.nhs.uk