Health bosses are considering moving a doctors' surgery that has been shut for almost nine months.

Warden Bay Surgery, in Jetty Road, Warden, on the Isle of Sheppey, was closed suddenly in September last year due to damage to the building which left it unsafe for patients and staff.

In November, Swale Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), which plans and pays for the area’s healthcare, said it had applied for funding from NHS England to improve and extend the building.

However, it has since revealed the bid was unsuccessful and it is looking for another solution.

A Swale CCG spokesman said: “The building remains structurally unsafe for use and therefore patients registered at Warden Bay will continue to be seen at partner surgeries under the existing interim arrangements.

“The CCG understands that these arrangements continue to operate smoothly, with no formal complaints received from patients.”

He added: “To find a longer-term solution, we are working with other public sector organisations to identify alternative premises in the community which may be suitable to relocate the surgery to.

“Unfortunately our initial bid for funding was unsuccessful so we have re-applied for funding through an alternative channel.”

The practice has 1,100 patients on its books and they are now having to seek appointments at either Eastchurch and Leysdown surgeries or the St George’s Medical Practice in Sheerness.

“If people are having to go to Leysdown, Eastchurch or Sheerness to see the doctor, it means there’s less time for the patients who normally go to use those services..." - Pat Sandle

Pat Sandle, who chairs Warden Parish Council, said it was about time a solution was found.

"We wrote to the CCG last week saying something needs to be done and the alternative, we feel, is to use the children’s centre next to the school on the corner of Warden Bay Road," she said.

"It has two separate entrances, it has a room that’s used when the midwife goes up there and it’s plenty big enough for a shared use.

“Kent County Council only allocated it 18 hours a week for children’s services too.”

Pat, a patient at the Warden surgery, added: “Considering we’ve one of the highest doctor to patient ratios, they’re making it worse.

“If people are having to go to Leysdown, Eastchurch or Sheerness to see the doctor, it means there’s less time for the patients who normally go to use those services. Something needs to be done.”

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