The South Essex Managed Care GP surgery in Wickford may be close to closing, which would leave almost 5,000 disgruntled patients having to look elsewhere for their health services.

At a meeting between residents, politicians, the NHS, and NHS Basildon and Brentwood Clinical Commissioning Group on Tuesday and Wednesday, the NHS proposed it will not renew its GP contract with the practice, which is due in January 2018.

SEMC has 4,932 registered patients. The practice is based in Wickford Health Centre, in Market Road. Other practices within the medical centre are not affected.

Christina Papalabropoulos, 62, from Harris Close, Wickford, is furious at the decision.

She said: “I have been a patient there for six years, the service has been good and it would be a shame to see it go.

“I went to the meetings on Tuesday and Wednesday night. To me, it all came down to cutting costs. There were a lot of heated conversations between residents and the NHS, I felt like we were being talked down to. I’m very concerned that the other surgeries in London Road and Applewood won’t be able to take up the numbers.

“There are more than 10,000 patients in London Road and Applewood has around 6,000. Wickford has hit a crisis point. Our population is growing but there aren’t enough surgeries.”

Another patient, Christine Collins, 62, Cedar Avenue, was devastated by the news.

She said: “I’ve been a patient there for 40 years and it would be really sad to see it go. This will mean more pressure on the other surgeries and I don’t even want to think about the increased waiting times.”

Rachel Webb, locality director for NHS England Midlands and East said: “NHS England is proposing to not re-procure this contract when it expires.

"NHS England is proposing to not re-procure this contract when it expires. This is because NHS England, working with NHS Basildon and Brentwood Clinical Commissioning Group are looking to bring together and strengthen GP services in the Wickford area by developing GP practices that have larger patient list sizes and longer term contracts. This will ensure that GP services in the area are more sustainable.

“NHS England recently hosted two well-attended  events and drop-in sessions, giving patients of the SEMC GP practice an opportunity to share their views on this proposal. A final decision on the future of the practice will only be made once NHS England and NHS Basildon and Brentwood Clinical Commissioning Group have fully considered all of the feedback and comments people shared with us.”