Patients in Allington will not have to travel anywhere new as their local GP surgeries prepare to close.

Allington Park and Allington Clinic are both set to close at the end of May as GPs at each site head for the door.

The retirement of Dr Robert Mennie and Dr Mayur Vibhuti's resignation sparked fears local patients could have to travel elsewhere for GP services.

This week it was announced The College Practice would open a new branch inside Allington Clinic after Dr Vibhuti's last day on May 31.

Maidstone and The Weald MP Helen Grant said: "I am very pleased to hear there is going to be a practice still operating in Allington. This service is absolutely crucial for my constituents who live in the area, demonstrated by the fact that so many of them have written to me in the past few weeks on this topic.

"I am glad that the CCG were able to find a solution which doesn’t leave my constituents without a surgery and grateful to The College Practice for agreeing to set up this branch practice.

"I appreciate and understand that some may still have concerns about capacity and I will be continuing to carefully monitor this practice. I would urge any of my constituents with concerns to contact me as well as the CCG directly so I can raise this with them further."

The College Practice is currently rated Good by Care Quality Commission inspectors, as were both Allington surgeries.

In total, 3,300 Allington patients will be kept on with the new College Practice.

Those patients will also be able to visit the practice's other branches in College Road, Maidstone and Marigold Way, Barming.

The influx of patients will bring the number registered to The College Practice to just under 20,000.

Lib Dem councillor Dan Daley said: "This appears to be a very good outcome.

"It is vitally important the provision of GP facilities within walking distance for Allington residents has been continued."

Dr Mennie announced his retirement last month citing he could no longer cope with the demand of 12 hour shifts GPs regularly face.

Patients are set to receive letters outlining plans this week.

Gail Arnold, chief operating officer for NHS West Kent Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG): "The new branch surgery will accept all patients who live in Allington ward and are currently registered at Allington Clinic or Allington Park Surgery: these patients will automatically be registered with the practice and their medical records transferred across. These patients do not need to do anything. They will receive a letter informing them of the change.

“Patients will also be able to access the services provided by The College Practice from its main site in College Road or its branch surgery in Barming, if this suits them.

"Some patients who are currently registered at Allington Clinic or Allington Park Surgery live outside the Allington ward. We are writing to these patients to explain how to register with a GP practice which serves the area where they live. A proportion of these patients will be transferred and registered automatically with the Bower Mount Surgery or The College Practice’s main site on College Road from 1 June 2018.

"We appreciate everyone’s patience during this time and apologise for any inconvenience caused to patients. We are continuing to work with staff from both Allington Park Surgery and Allington Clinic and the other local GP practices to ensure a smooth transfer of patient care and to identify and support vulnerable patients who may require additional assistance to register with a new GP practice. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of those involved in securing the future provision of GP care in Allington.

“The opening of this branch surgery ensures a future for GP services in Allington. As the population grows and more people live with long-term conditions and complex health needs, the CCG is seeking to deliver more healthcare outside of a hospital setting and in the community, coordinated around the needs of patients. Local GP practices will play a key role in delivering this new model of care."