NUFFIELD Health has re-opened its fitness and wellbeing club in Weybourne Lane, Farnham, as a clinic for those undergoing urgent treatment for non-coronavirus health issues to help relieve pressure on the NHS.

The temporary clinic will support vulnerable patients from Nuffield’s Guildford Hospital, which is in turn supporting Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust during the coronavirus pandemic.

A spokesperson for Nuffield Health, the UK’s largest healthcare charity, said: “Many people needing or undergoing urgent treatment are at greater risk of complications from the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.

"Therefore, we have opened a clinic, temporarily reopening our fitness and wellbeing club in Farnham, to support vulnerable patients from our Guildford Hospital.

“Our approach of providing continuity of care for our patients at the Farnham clinic will free up capacity to allow our Guildford hospital site to fully support Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust during the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.

"As the UK’s largest healthcare charity, we have a huge role to play in supporting the NHS patients in our local communities across the nation.

"Our clinical teams are motivated to support the NHS front-line clinical teams at the Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust as this challenging coronavirus (Covid-19) situation evolves.”

The clinic in Farnham is treating people needing or undergoing urgent treatment who are at greater risk of complications from the coronavirus. This opened on Tuesday, April 7.

The Herald also understands Surrey County Council is considering re-opening the former Cobgates care home opposite the University for the Creative Arts in Farnham to provide extra hospital beds for the NHS.

The care home in Falkner Road closed in 2016, but in recent days it has been a hive of activity as up to 15 rooms are reportedly made ready.

County bosses have confirmed "a small team of surveyors" have assessed Cobgates and other former care homes across Surrey to explore whether they could provide an "additional emergency requirements".