Patients’ records safe after surgery fire (From The Northern Echo)

Patients’ records safe after surgery fire

10:53am Tuesday 9th March 2010 in

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HEALTH bosses have assured patients of a fire-ravaged doctors’ surgery that their records are safe and alternative services are being made available.

Adan House, in Spennymoor, County Durham, was destroyed on Saturday night following an arson attack.

County Durham Primary Care Trust (PCT) has assured all patient that records were kept electronically and a regularly updated backup system was in place.

The PCT’s information technology department is working to restore information.

Health officials, surgery staff and the emergency services met on Sunday to establish alternative services for the surgery, which has 10,000 registered patients and five GPs.

Staff have asked that all telephone inquiries are for urgent matters only.

Patients calling the surgery will be put through to receptionists who will handle their calls and advise them.

GPs are seeing patients at other locations, details of which are available onsite.

Arrangements are also in place for emergency prescriptions and there is an advice line manned by doctors.

Police have spoken to two boys, aged eight and nine, in connection with the incident.