Emergency services deemed that Fakenham Pharmacy’s premises were not fit for purpose after a New Year’s Eve storm broke the roof, staff today (January 6) told C+D.
The storm caused a tree branch to fall off and break one of the pharmacy roof’s corners, a locum pharmacist working at the pharmacy said.
The damage occurred amid a yellow weather warning issued by the Met Office across Norfolk, local press Fakenham & Wells Times reported.
Read more: ‘We lost everything in the fire’: Rowlands branch reopens in portacabin
Winds caught the exposed corner, ultimately detaching the whole metal sheet and leaving parts of it hanging on a tree, the locum added.
The pharmacy called the police and fire service who deemed the premises unsafe and not fit for purpose, citing dripping water and electricals, they said.
Essential to operate
The pharmacy was forced to carry out its contingency plan and operate from another collection point inside a medical centre, according to the locum pharmacist.
One designated pharmacy colleague has been checking prescriptions in the damaged premise before bringing them back for collection by patients at the other premise, they explained.
They stressed that Fakenham Pharmacy serves many patients in the small Norfolk town and that it was essential to operate for elderly and vulnerable residents.
Read more: Fire-ravaged Rowlands branch opens ‘new-look premises’ after portacabin stint
It remains unclear how long the original premise will be closed to patients.
Meanwhile, a North Wales Rowlands branch that was ravaged by a fire causing “considerable damage” opened in a “temporary cabin” in August.
In October, the branch reopened its doors in a “new-look premises”.
