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Callous thieves break in to Notts GP surgery causing huge disruption to patient care

Mindless vandals attacked the surgery in Eastwood Nottinghamshire.

A break-in at a Nottingham GP surgery in Eastwood has caused disruption to patient services at a time when staffing levels are down and all efforts are being directed at the coronavirus pandemic.

The incident happened in the early hours of Wednesday 1 April at the Church Street Medical Centre in Eastwood.

The front door was broken, the locks chiselled out.

Practice Manager Sarah Petter told The Wire:

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‘We’re suffering at the moment with around 30% of our staff away self-isolating, and are ‘busting a gut’ as a team to provide a service to patients.

‘People are coming into work early to support and every day is a challenge, it’s so sad that this incident has diverted us all onto other things.’

Sarah said that the perpetrator, believed to be one man wearing a face-covering smashed the door, chiselled the locks out and entered the premises. There are no valuables on the premises and in the end, he got away with nothing.

Sarah added: ‘The surgery is completely prepared for COVID-19 with a 2-metre rule, infection control practices are in place, it’s cleaned to the correct specification, when we discovered the damage at 7 am this morning – all of that work has to be re-done and re-cleaned and it needs to be re-secured. We had to call locksmiths and insurance companies, diverting members of the team form crucial patient care.’

‘It has jeopardised everything we’re doing for a whole morning.

We’re just about back on track now.’

Nicole Atkinson, Notts ICS Clinical lead & South Notts ICP Clinical lead said on social media:

‘To whoever tried to break into our surgery last night and smashed up our front door I hope you realise the staff at EPCC are now having to spend their time ringing insurers, sorting new doors, and are upset, when in fact they are stretched enough. Terrible to happen now.’

Nottinghamshire Police said:

‘We’re investigating after an attempted break-in at Church Street Medical Centre in Eastwood.

‘The front door was smashed between 7pm last night and 7.20am this morning.

‘If anyone saw anything or has any information that could help, please call us on 101 quoting incident 91 of 1 April.’

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