UNIVERSITY Hospitals Dorset have closed their Covid swabbing pod in Poole.

The facility provides a safe, separate unit where participants in clinical trials or outpatients who are symptomatic or have tested positive for COVID-19 can continue to have medical check-ups or receive ongoing treatment without coming into contact with other site visitors.

A spokesperson on the University Hospitals Dorset Twitter page, said: "Today we are closing the doors of the swabbing pod in Poole for the last time.

"Thanks to all our staff who have worked tirelessly throughout the pandemic, for the past two years our dedicated teams have been at the heart of swabbing.

Darren Jose, UHD’s deputy group director of operations, said: “As we adapt to the latest government swabbing guidelines we have made the decision to close the doors of the PCR swabbing pod at Poole Hospital.

“We would like to thank all our staff who have worked tirelessly throughout the pandemic across all our pods, they have provided a fantastic service, being flexible, dedicated and calm throughout the last two years.

“The swabbing pod at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital will remain open for the foreseeable future and we have the flexibility to ramp-up services to meet any future clinical need.”