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No date for health centre reopening after illness

Andrew Turner
BBC News, Norfolk
Reporting fromCaister-on-Sea
Andrew Turner/BBC The sign outside Caister Medical Centre - which has since been renamed Caister Health Centre. The picture shows the signage with flowering weeds growing nearby. The section of red brick wall leads to a wooden fence, which is partially covered in ivy, with a tree growing above. The Caister Health Centre buildings can be seen to the centre left of the image; a 1980s two-storey building, built of red brick with hipped tiled roofs. Windows and air conditioning units can be seen in the image.Andrew Turner/BBC
Caister Health Centre remains only partially open while an investigation continues into the cause of air quality issues that led to staff feeling unwell

Staff at a medical centre say it is too early to say when it will fully reopen while investigations into air quality issues continue.

Caister Health Centre, in Caister-on-Sea near Great Yarmouth, comprises a GP surgery, dental practice and pharmacy. Both the GP and dentistry services have been transferred to other sites.

The Wellbeing Pharmacy is operating a restricted service from the door, with customers not allowed inside the shop premises.

Jonathan Knights, executive manager of East Norfolk Medical Practice (ENMP), which operates the GP surgery, said We are continuing to carry out appointments at Newtown [Great Yarmouth] and work with other agencies on the situation."

The site was first evacuated on 29 April when 16 people felt unwell.

It shut again a week later on 6 May, with each practice saying it would remain closed until Monday to allow for tests.

Andrew Turner/BBC The Wellbeing Pharmacy, with it's pharmacy green cross logo on the left of the signage and NHS logo at the right of that sign, above the shop window and door. There is an orange chair in the doorway, and another outside near to the access ramp to the front door. There are blinds against part of the aluminium-framed window. The building is made of red brick, and part of the boundary wall is covered in ivy, with trees growing behind the buildings and a clouded sky appearing in the upper right of the image.Andrew Turner/BBC
The Wellbeing Pharmacy at Caister Health Centre has reopened but with customers served at the door

Mr Knights said the group had been in talks on Wednesday with other stakeholders following investigations by air quality contractors on Friday.

He added: "We are hopeful we will know more by the end of the week."

The BBC was told by a member of the pharmacy staff that operating from the door had allowed them to dispense prescriptions and clear the backlog caused by the evacuations.

In a statement, the company said: "The cause of this incident has not yet been confirmed to our head office.

"However, our staff were present at the entrance of the pharmacy, assisting incoming patients by handing out their medications and signposting them to the appropriate services.

"I want to emphasise that, despite the disruption, our pharmacy team remained committed to supporting the community. We recognise that people still need help, especially in challenging circumstances.

"Our staff and Wellbeing Pharmacy have been helping the community and I hope these efforts are appreciated by the community as well."

Andrew Turner/BBC An orange chair with a piece of printed paper, stating: "Do not cross!". It is placed in the entrance door of the Wellbeing Pharmacy. Signs can be seen at the window, and the aluminium-framed door is propped open. A red fire extinguisher and a yellow hazard warning sign are visible inside the shop, on the left of the image.Andrew Turner/BBC
The Wellbeing Pharmacy has not allowed customers inside the shop while staff worked to clear the backlog of prescriptions caused when the premises was closed
Andrew Turner/BBC A copper-coloured engraved sign reading: "John G Plummer and Associates Dental Surgeons" mounted on a wooden board, outside the premises. Some of the brickwork of the building can be seen in the leftmost side of the image and some signs, explaining the temporary closure and other messages, are stuck to the inside of the glazed panel of an aluminium-framed door.Andrew Turner/BBC
John G Plummer says dental staff and patients have been transferred to a new practice in Bradwell during the temporary closure

A spokesperson for John G Plummer and Associates dental practice said a meeting was held on Wednesday morning involving the various stakeholders in the site.

In a statement to the BBC, it said: "To date, none of our staff have experienced any issues; any reports of feeling unwell have emanated from the doctors' premises and their staff.

"We have a recently opened new practice at Bradwell and as a temporary measure we have relocated all our staff and are seeing patients from Caister there.

"Our staff and patients have been very understanding and appreciative of this short term alternative.

"Naturally not all patients have chosen to move locations, instead preferring to wait to be seen at Caister, [but] a large number have moved across."

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