PATIENTS at a Swindon super-surgery have been warned not to come in to see a GP if they have a cough - and have recently travelled to areas hit by coronavirus outbreaks.

Westrop Medical Practice, which runs surgeries in Highworth, Blunsdon, Old Town and Taw Hill, sent a text out to patients with the health warning.

People were advised against coming into the surgery and instead call the NHS advice line 111.

The text read: “If you have symptoms of a cough, shortness of breath (with or without fever) and have recently returned from China, Hong Kong, Japan, Macau, Malaysia, Republic of Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Iran, specific lockdown areas in northern Italy or Hubei province OR have been in contact with someone with a confirmed case of coronavirus DO NOT come in to the surgery.

“Please stay at home and call 111. Thank you.”

The advice has appeared on the websites of other GP surgeries.

Lambourn Surgery advised the risk to the public was “moderate”.

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It comes a day after a GP practice in Bradford-on-Avon was shut after medics spotted a possible coronavirus case.

It is understood a man visited the surgery yesterday morning reporting symptoms similar to coronavirus, and staff promptly locked the doors, treating the patient while reassuring other sick people there was no risk to their health and the surgery was taking the precautions advised by NHS England.