Patients at the Garlinge GP surgery, operated by The Limes Medical Centre, have been notified of its possible closure.
Letters have been sent out to say the premises are no longer suitable and a search for an alternative property had not been fruitful.
The Garlinge surgery, in Canterbury Road, had been proposed for closure in 2016 after the retirement of Dr Sohanpol but The Limes then took over the running of the site.
An NHS Thanet Clinical Commissioning Group spokesman said: “We can confirm that we have received an application from The Limes Medical Centre to close the Garlinge branch surgery.
“The practice is currently consulting with patients and is asking patients to complete a survey expressing their views and concerns. The practice has also organised two patient drop-in sessions for patients to express their views and concerns.
“All of these comments will be taken on board before the NHS Thanet Clinical Commissioning Group‘s Primary Care Commissioning Committee makes a decision on this proposed closure on Thursday 17 May.”
The Limes Medical Centre will remain open and continue to see Garlinge patients. There is no need to re-register.
‘Regret’
In a letter to patients the medical centre says: “Although patients have been able to use the Garlinge branch since July 2016, the premises no longer allow us to offer the best care for our patients. It is therefore with regret that after a lot of discussion and consideration the practice is proposing to close the branch surgery.
Some of the problems we face that have led to this decision are: The premises is not suitable for providing modern day healthcare; The building is vulnerable to adverse weather and computer systems run very slowly with some not being available
“We know that this may not be a popular decision with some patients, but we have not been able to find alternative premises, despite looking at many options, working closely with the Thanet Clinical Commissioning Group.
“We understand that closure of the Garlinge branch site may make access to the practice more difficult for a number of patients. However we believe that this change will strengthen the practice as a whole, allowing us to offer a wider range of services to all of our patients and a more consistent level of service.”
Patient meetings
Garlinge Methodist Church Hall, Canterbury Road, Garlinge, on Thursday 19 April, from 5pm
The Limes Medical Centre Trinity Square, Margate on Saturday 21 April from 9.30am.
Send questions to The Limes Medical Centre, Trinity Square, Margate CT9 1QT
The consultation ends on May 4.
