Surgeries close after staff member tests positive for coronavirus

TWO GP surgeries have been forced to close temporarily after a staff member tested positive for coronavirus.

Christchurch Medical Practice, which runs the Orchard Surgery at Purewell and the Bransgore Medical Centre in the village’s Ringwood Road, announced on Sunday it would close them for 14 days after a team member fell ill.

The practice also runs the Barn Surgery at Purewell and Burton Medical Centre in Salisbury Road which will both remain open.

A statement from Christchurch Medical Practice said: “All of the relevant branches have had a full chemical deep clean. The staff member was not in a patient-facing role and therefore there is no increased risk to any of our patients.”

It added: “Following strict government guidelines and advice from Public Health England has meant that quite a large amount of our colleagues will also have to self-isolate for 14 days. This will mean as a practice we are operating under very limited resources.

“To maximise staffing levels we have decide to close our Bransgore and Orchard sites for the next two-week period.

“This may mean that over the next two weeks there may been some changes to appointments that are already booked as we move our clinics around the different sites to accommodate this.

“The phones will be answered the best we can but we ask that if it is not urgent that you please leave them free for the clinically vulnerable and urgent medical need.”

The colleague was “comfortable at home”, the statement added, and wanted to thank patients who had sent well wishes.