Health centre where staff fell ill remains closed

Caister Health Centre in Norfolk is to stay shut all next week, as health bosses try to find out why staff began to feel unwell.

The GP surgery and dental practice have been closed since 6 May when the site was evacuated as a precaution. The month before, 16 people were assessed by medics complaining of headaches and tiredness.

Staff at the on-site pharmacy have been operating a restricted service, dispensing prescriptions at the door with the shop not accessible to the public.

Jonathan Knights, executive manager of East Norfolk Medical Practice that runs the GP service, said: "We will definitely remain closed at Caister next week."

The practice has not given any details about its investigation, nor stated whether it has found any link to staff feeling unwell.

On 29 April, more than a dozen people complained about feeling ill, with four of those seeking attention at James Paget University Hospital.

A week later on 6 May, the site was evacuated as a precaution with emergency services called again, as well as engineers from gas network operator Cadent and Anglian Water, which manages the sewer network. Neither found any issues.

John G Plummer and Associates said it had deployed staff from Caister to its new dental practice in Bradwell, but said some Caister patients had asked for their appointments to be delayed until the site reopens.

East Norfolk Medical Practice said it had deferred its patients to Newtown Surgery in Great Yarmouth, with other practices in the group also assisting in maintaining appointments.

In a statement, it said: "We will remain closed until further notice whilst the investigation continues.

"The investigation is ongoing and no conclusion [has been] reached."

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