A PHYSIOTHERAPY clinic which makes about 1,000 appointments a month has been forced to close after asbestos was found  in a ceiling void. 

The Stoneham Centre at the Moorgreen Hospital site in West End has temporarily closed  after asbestos was found at the site following the removal of a suspended ceiling as part of ongoing refurbishment works.

Solent NHS Trust provides musculoskeletal (MSK) physiotherapy, specialist physiotherapy, pain and rheumatology clinics at the premises. 

The trust said the clinic makes  about  200 appointments a week and about  1,000 a month but it was unable to confirm the number of patients who attend the centre. 

The trust said alternative arrangements for patients are being made and capacity at the Adelaide Health Centre in Southampton has been increased in the meantime. 

It is not yet known when the centre will re-open.

But NHS bosses said monitoring tests showed there was no damage, contamination nor any impact for any staff or patients who had been in the building.

A spokesman for Solent NHS Trust said: “Continuing to provide care is of the utmost importance to us and we are making every effort to minimise the disruption. Patients with appointments will be contacted accordingly. Those requesting appointments in the future will also be offered an alternative site. We continue to liaise with NHS Property Services who are investigating andcarrying out tests on the building before they can confirm how quickly we will be able to return to the Stoneham Centre.caused to our patients or visitors during this closure.”

The centre closed on Tuesday and the building’s landlord NHS Property Services (NHSPS) said arrangements are now being made to have the asbestos removed. NHSPS said the material was not disturbed and tests carried out in the building  confirmed that no areas were contaminated.

Eastleigh MP Mims Davies said she has contacted health bosses to ensure  they are communicating with patients and the local community.

She added:  “I understand that my local constituents will be concerned by this current closure, however, I know that they will also understand that if it is a safety concern that has led to the temporary closure, it is absolutely right that the issue is fully investigated and corrected before the centre is re-opened.”