Patients diverted as GP practice suffers power cut from Storm Bram

GP practices in Cumbria have experienced power cuts and issues with phone lines this week after Storm Bram brought strong winds and very heavy rain to northern and western parts of the UK.

Patients at Caldbeck Surgery, near Wigton, were advised by Primary Care Services North Cumbria to call NHS 111 on Wednesday as the practice experienced power outages due to the storm, and as a result had no phonelines.

In a statement on Facebook, the surgery said they were ‘experiencing a full power cut’ and expected to have no power for the rest of the day.

It added: ‘We do not have any phone lines – please call 999 for emergency or 111 for a medical issue needing attention today.

‘Please do not leave messages on our answer machine or use an online consultation form at this time as we are unsure when these will be actioned. Please avoid attending the surgery in person for any reason.’

In a statement, Primary Care Services North Cumbria said: ‘Caldbeck Surgery are continuing to experience power outages and as a result have no phonelines. Patients are advised to contact 111 today as a result and as they work to resolve the situation.

‘Staff are currently doing what they can at this time and seeing patients with pre-booked appointments until the light fades, when they will re-assess the situation.’

Other GP surgeries in the area were also affected, with Birbeck Medical Group in Penrith telling Pulse that ‘the connections with the phones were dipping in and out on some calls’ due to the storm.

And Wigton Group Medical Practice told Pulse they experienced ‘brief issues with the phone lines’ on Tuesday morning.

North East and North Cumbria ICB said Caldbeck Surgery was able to divert telephone lines, had ‘plans to access clinical space in other nearby locations if required’ and that the issue has now been resolved.

An ICB spokesperson told Pulse: ‘One of our GP practices was directly affected when Storm Bram hit the region earlier this week. Caldbeck Surgery had a loss of power to the practice site for a short period but there was minimal disruption to patients accessing general practice services.

‘Across the NHS, we plan for incidents such as adverse weather or similar unplanned emergences and our colleagues in general practice will activate their business continuity plans which are designed to minimise disruption and maintain patient care.

‘In line with those plans, the practice was able to divert telephone lines, work remotely to access clinical systems from other sites and have plans to access clinical space in other nearby locations if required.

‘Where necessary there is also the option to direct patients to NHS 111 for urgent support but this was not required in this instance.’