A DOCTOR’S practice has invited its patients who have recently contracted coronavirus symptoms to come forward for testing.

In a move that goes beyond the current national testing strategy being implemented by the government, the Adam Practice made the offer open to those registered with any of their four surgeries across Poole.

The practices are able to offer the service as they are taking part in a national surveillance programme set up by the Royal College of General Practitioners.

In a post on Facebook, the Adam Practice said: “Coronavirus testing for symptomatic Adam Practice patients only now available.

“The Adam Practice are proud to be a research surveillance centre and as part of the important work going on to understand the incidence of virus in our local population we are testing our practice population with COVID-19 symptoms.

“If you have a temperature or continuous cough for less than seven days then please contact us.

“We are able to test both adults and children but we need to test within seven days of the symptoms appearing.”

A spokesman for the NHS Dorset Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) said: “The surveillance programme being run by the Royal College of General Practitioners (RGCP) research and surveillance centre involves over 500 practices from throughout the country and we are aware that a number of practices in Dorset are interested in taking part, including the Adam Practice in Poole.

“The testing that will be carried out will look at the different levels of COVID-19 in our local population and will help us understand more about how it spreads and who it affects.”

The testing from the Adam Practice comes as a drive-through centre for key workers and local NHS staff is due to be operational from today at the park and ride site in Creekmoor.

Managed by the Department of Health and Social Care, key workers displaying coronavirus symptoms can have appointments booked by their employers.

On Thursday, the government announced all key workers who were displaying symptoms could get tested. They were told to register on a dedicated webpage, however, within hours of it launching on Friday it was temporarily closed due to “significant demand”.

Over the weekend the government was working to increase availability as the testing strategy continues to come under intense scrutiny.