A village GP surgery will shut next year, a senior doctor has confirmed.

Closure of Seasalter Surgery near Whitstable has been approved by health chiefs following a consultation with patients.

The GP practice in Faversham Road is one of four that make up Whitstable Medical Practice - together with Estuary View Medical Centre, Whitstable Health Centre and Chestfield Medical Centre.

Dr John Ribchester, senior and executive partner at Whitstable Medical Practice, told KentOnline clinics at Seasalter will gradually be reduced, with closure set for Spring 2020.

"Following an extensive public enquiry and thorough explanation of the logic of closing the very underused Seasalter branch surgery, the Canterbury and Coastal Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) has approved closure," he said.

"They have complimented Whitstable Medical Practice on good communication and engagement with our patients in Seasalter.

"We understand that the community pharmacy will continue on this site.

"All doctors, nurses and staff will be retained and moved to our other medical centres where they will be fully engaged in providing a broader range of healthcare services than was possible in the Seasalter branch surgery.

"There will be no overall loss of appointments which we anticipate will be much more fully utilised."

Bosses say GP and nurse appointments are going unused at Seasalter - while the three other main sites are experiencing an increasing pressure on appointments.

They say the Seasalter ward has 7,000 patients - but only 600 are currently using the surgery.

Dr Rezina Sakel is currently the only GP who sees patients at the practice in Seasalter, which she uses part-time.

"All doctors, nurses and staff will be retained and moved to our other medical centres..." - Dr John Ribchester

In a letter to patients this year, she wrote: “A number of GP appointments and almost half of the nurse appointments are being unused every week.

“The vast majority of my patients now prefer to see me at Whitstable Health Centre as they can also access other services which are available there.

“The nurses and I feel strongly that continuing to keep the Seasalter site open would be detrimental to patient care.

“Access to computerised medical records and clinical software systems is also poor. I am unable to read X-ray reports and access certain patient documents.

“We feel that centralising services at our other three main sites would provide better continuation of care and improve quality. It would also ensure that precious appointments are not wasted.”

It was reported this year the surgery was facing closure and was considering making an application to the CCG.

A consultation was launched to gauge how patients would feel about the surgery’s closure.

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