8:40am Wednesday 28th October 2009
By Neil Docking
CLITHEROE Health Centre has closed after a fire knocked out all of the £2million building’s lighting, heating, IT and telephone systems.
Staff discovered the fire in the centre’s main electricity meter room when they arrived at work to an alarm ringing around 8.30am yesterday, shortly before the Railway View Avenue site was due to open to the public.
Firefighters believe the fire was started by a short circuit in a lighting panel, which quickly spread along ducting behind panels and engulfed cables.
Two fire engines from Clitheroe Fire Station attended, with four firefighters wearing breathing apparatus tackling the blaze with dry powder, and using a thermal imaging camera to identify the exact source of the blaze.
Watch manager Dave McGrath said: “We had to make sure we didn't use water and that we isolated the electrical supply externally.
“It was a testing job. We were there for two hours, but if it hadn’t been for the smoke alarm alerting us early on, we could have been looking at a whole different scenario.”
NHS East Lancashire, which began a £1.4million refurbish-ment of the site two years ago and completed its new £650,000 treatment room extension this summer, said an immediate decision was made to close the centre’s two GP surgeries and treatment room.
A spokesman said it was likely that the centre would remain closed for the rest of the week while repair work takes place.
However, he said alternative arrangements were made within hours of the fire being discovered for the two GP surgeries and treatment room.
Sheila Millard, Clitheroe Health Centre manager, said: “Everyone has been absolutely brilliant in tackling the situation to keep services up and running.
“We apologise for any inconvenience, but ask people to bear with us as we try to maintain normal service.”
The Castle GP surgery has relocated to The Annexe, in Railway View Road.
The surgery will be open from 8am to 6.30pm and its telephone number is 01200 444255.
The Pendleside GP practice has moved temporarily to Quex House, in Railway View Road. It will also be open from 8am to 6.30pm and its contact number is 01200 458175.
The treatment room has moved to the Ribble Ward at Clitheroe Community Hospital, in Chatburn Road. Its contact number is 01200 420614.
Patients are asked to attend only if absolutely necessary for the next few days.
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