Staff Covid issues force GP closure

A BURTON surgery has notified patients that it would be dealing with emergencies only as Covid issues had left it in a “critical” position.

Trent Meadows Medical Practice, in Main Street, Branston, sent out a text to patients informing them that due to staff or their families testing positive, the surgery would not be open as normal yesterday.

It stated many staff were waiting on results from PCR tests and could not return to work until they had received a negative result.

This meant it was only dealing with emergencies and those who had an issue not deemed to be an emergency were urged to call the NHS 111 number 111 for help.

The text read: “We are currently in a critical position with both clinical and non-clinical staff, or their families, testing positive over the festive period. PCR results are pending for many staff and so a return to work is not possible until these have been received.

“The practice will not be in a position to deal with anything but emergencies. Please ring 111 for advice if your problem is not of an urgent nature.

“Please do not ring the surgery, as we will not have the staff available to deal with you.”

A spokesman for the Midlands and Lancashire Commissioning Support Unit said: “Trent Meadows is currently experiencing problems with staff having to isolate and have therefore sent a text message to make them aware of the situation. They would like to thank patients for their understanding.”

A 54-year-old Stretton man who is patient at the practice and received the text said it was worrying for people who received the message.

He said: “It’s very worrying when people aren’t able to access their GP surgery directly. The text from the practice said that they would not be able to deal with anything other than emergencies, but ‘emergencies’ could mean different things to different people. What if someone elderly has had a fall, and they are not sure if they have damaged their body?

“They are the sort of people who do not want to be told to ring 111, helpful though that service is. I think what should have happened is that people should have been offered an alternative GP service in Burton to contact.”