Patients have told of their frustration as their closest GP surgery continues to open for just 10 hours a week.

Staffing issues mean the Golf Road practice in Deal only offers slots across two half-days - down from the five-day week it operated before the pandemic.

The reduced hours were introduced earlier this year following the surgery's temporary spell as a hub treating Covid-infected patients who needed to see a GP.

Now the practice, which is part of St Richard's Road Surgery, is only open on Mondays from 2pm to 6pm, and Thursdays from 8am to 2pm.

Patient Anthony Nagle, who lives in Middle Street, understands the difficult situation clinicians face, but feels more needs to be done to get appointments back to the way they were before the pandemic.

The 58-year-old said: "I am empathetic to the general practice situation - it's not easy and there are lots of increased demands and challenges.

"But like any independent business, and that's what a GP surgery is, they should be transparent and open and honest about what their future intent is.

"For the past few months I have been trying to get an appointment with a doctor at Golf Road Surgery.

"The first time I called it wasn’t open, the second time they said they are opening it, but for two half-days a week.

"The reason I was given was because of staff shortages. That may well be the case, but there have been staff shortages for a good chunk of time.

"It's absolutely frustrating.

"The fact the surgery had to take measures to keep everyone safe is also understandable, but those were exceptional times.

"Covid is not completely over, but most things in life are returning back to normal and there are a few little exceptions, but you would think that would include going to the doctor."

Practice opening times online have not been updated since the end of 2017, with the NHS website still stating the surgery is open from 8am to 6.30pm five days a week.

Golf Road is a secondary branch to St Richard's Road Surgery, and between them they look after 10,174 registered patients.

Those unable to access Golf Road are instead being given appointments at St Richard's Road, which is a 45-minute walk away for those without a car.

A spokesman for the main branch said: “Our team is working hard to provide patients with the best possible care at a time when we are experiencing a high demand for our services.

“We are currently training new nurses, so don’t have enough staff to keep the Golf Road branch surgery open all week, and as a training practice we need to maintain clinical supervision for trainee GPs who work at St Richard’s Road, which is our main surgery.

“We are endeavouring to keep appointments available at Golf Road Surgery for those patients who request to be seen there, however, there may be occasions when this is not possible due to high demand and availability of clinicians.”

A spokesman for NHS Kent and Medway added: “There is no fixed number of GPs that a practice needs to have.

“Our team is working hard to provide patients with the best possible care at a time when we are experiencing a high demand for our services ..."

"Each practice is best placed to determine the mix of clinical staff which may include paramedic practitioners, clinical pharmacists and nurses, to meet their patient’s needs and how a practice wishes to operate, including the use of sessional or locum GPs.”

Earlier this year, St Ricahrd's Road Surgery was granted permission to convert part of its first floor into a two-bedroom flat.

The apartment will be 80sqm in size, using space which has been vacant since the practice was built in 2007, with a small side extension.

This is to allow for separate access, allowing the residential element to remain independent of the practice.

Bosses say it will make the most efficient use of the building and provide affordable worker accommodation for healthcare staff as part of Assura Living.

It will feature an open-plan kitchen, living and dining area, with two bedrooms and one bathroom, plus storage space.