A doctor’s surgery, which closed after it was criticised by a health watchdog, is expected to reopen in February.

Cllr Mike Whiting announced at a council meeting in October that Lakeside Medical Centre, in Milton Regis, would be up and running in time for Christmas, but its doors remain closed.

However, MP Gordon Henderson says it’s just a matter of weeks before patients can access the service again.

He said: “Work is due to start in January, the refurbishment is expected to take between five and six weeks so it looks like it will open in February.

“Whilst I’m disappointed it didn’t open before Christmas, I’m pleased it’s progressing.”

In the meantime, people registered with the centre can continue to visit clinics at Sittingbourne Memorial Hospital, which is three miles away.

The arrangement has been in place for the past six months after the surgery’s sole GP, Dr Bijan Saha, announced his retirement on June 27.

His departure came after the practice was criticised in a Care Quality Commission (CQC) report as being an “unacceptable risk” to its 2,628 patients. It had also failed to meet any of the 11 standards checked.

NHS England (Kent and Medway) said Dr Saha had taken on four GPs from Swale as partners at the centre in Todd Crescent and that it would “stay open” during the transfer.

But when patients arrived on June 30 it was closed.

Those wanting an appointment were told alternative arrangements were in place at Sheppey Community Hospital in Minster.

Days later it was announced the site would remain closed while “contractual problems” were ironed out over the building’s leasehold.

Those issues have now been resolved and The Minster Medical Group is set to take over the running of the site.