5,000 may need to re-register

While the futures of Allington Park and Allington Clinic surgery have not been decided, patients are waiting to see what arrangements might be put in place.

Both surgeries are depending on a larger practice to take over, or else they will be closed on May 31.

If both venues, rated as providing good care, close, 5,011 patients will need to find other practices.

The closest is Bower Mount Medical Practice, on Bower Mount Road, which already has more than 10,000 patients listed.

In February, BMMP cut patients from its list who lived outside its current boundaries.

According to the practice, the patient review was carried out “to provide a safe service for all our patients.”

Bower Mount Medical Practice is due to start rolling out evening and weekend appointments in the near future.

Allington Clinic used to run a surgery in Tonbridge Road alongside its Tichborne Close site. This was owned by the Vibhuti family and sold for housing in 2016.

DrVibhuti told the KM the sold-off building had no room to expand, or offer parking, and could not be made compliant with disability legislation.

The venue also suffered when The Vines surgery which has more than 10,000 patients moved to a few hundred yards away and opened a purpose-built surgery with car parking.