Thousands of patients urgently trying to find a new doctor’s surgery face problems.

The surgery closes on February 28 and they need to find a new GP. So far just 1,200 of 5,600 Eaton Place Surgery patients have re-registered with another practice so far, NHS England’s Surrey and Sussex branch said.

Now one of the recommended surgeries is turning away patients as it is overwhelmed with applications, and said it cannot do more until it is given more guidance.

The health body insists it is giving support to help people find somewhere new, but many are saying everywhere is too full. How did the situation get to this? A plan needs to be put in place now to resolve these concerns. Otherwise this could force people to turn to already stretched walk-in services and emergency departments in the meantime.

Patients said the surgery needs to be properly replaced, and now it appears they were right.