The headquarters of a major healthcare provider is to temporarily close for seven weeks, forcing thousands of patients to go elsewhere for services.

Medway Community Healthcare(MCH) based on Gillingham Business Park, will be shut from Saturday, October 25, while work on an air conditioning system is carried out.

Patients who regularly access services at the centre, including blood tests and physiotherapy, are being directed to health practices across Medway in the interim period.

A statement from MCH said: “Works include air handling and some work towards making MCH sustainable for the future, such as solar panels and electronic vehicle charging.

“While we appreciate that this will cause disruption, the works will improve both the care we provide for patients and our staff working environment.

“Due to advance notice, no appointments have been booked for this period at MCH House and have instead been booked at alternative locations, including healthy living centres across Medway, and, where appropriate, telephone appointments. No clinics have been cancelled.

“Swiftqueue (our online blood test booking system) does not show MCH House as an option for patients during this time, until after we reopen. To allow for the closure, we have added additional appointments at other clinics.

“We look forward to improved use of space for patient care and staff into 2026 and beyond.”

MCH House in Bailey Drive is due to reopen on Saturday, December 15.

At the end of last year, MCH was subjected to a suspected cyber attack after the discovery of “suspicious activity” on its IT system.

It took five months for the problem to be fully resolved.

Fortunately, security systems in place prevented the hackers from obtaining access to any data.

An investigation was quickly launched by NHS England following inconsistencies uncovered during routine monitoring, but it was later confirmed there was “no evidence of unauthorised access to patient data”.

However, the cyber attack resulted in significant disruption of services, meaning patients and medical professionals could not access information, schedule appointments, and certain equipment could not be provided.

MCH deals with 10,000 patients a month and runs clinics across the Towns, including the Sunlight Centre, Gillingham, and in Hoo, Rainham and Lordswood.

Established in 2011, the majority of its services are contracted on behalf of the NHS which contributes towards funding.