A surgery’s decision to ditch its daily urgent care clinic has been branded “ridiculous” by furious patients.

The popular walk-in service at Faversham's Newton Place Surgery, which runs twice a day from Monday to Friday, will end on March 23 and be replaced with an online form system.

Instead of being able to drop into the practice between 8am and 10am and 3.30pm and 5.30pm to see a GP, concerned patients will be required to complete an ‘eConsult’ via the surgery website or NHS app about their problem.

A duty GP will then chose whether to book the patient in for a face-to-face appointment, or they may decide a telephone consultation is suitable.

But with a response not promised until the end of the next working day, patients on social media have blasted it “a joke”.

Town and county councillor Antony Hook - who lives in Faversham with his young daughter and wife - says he believes the decision should be reversed.

“As a patient of this surgery I am appalled by the end of urgent care appointments,” he said. “We are owed a very clear explanation of why this was proposed and how they intend to deliver the same care.

“We need to be reassured this is not about only money and the profit line for the surgery owners.

“People sometimes think surgeries are owned by the NHS, but that’s not right. They are independent, small businesses. But they run on public money and need to be accountable.

“It has been suggested this is being forced on the surgery by the government’s GP contract. If that’s right, the surgery need to say so, so we know it is the government to hold accountable.”

Cllr Hook fears it will mean more people going straight to A&E.

He said: “A normal appointment wait at Newton Place is two to three weeks, and urgent care appointments were the only way to see a doctor when you were really ill and needed to be seen.

“If this decision is not reversed, I am sure it will lead to more people going straight to hospital, which is not good.”

Mum-of-three Ellie Jupp, whose family uses the town centre surgery, says there are real risks linked to a call-back system.

“I haven’t experienced [the e-system] before, but I have experienced a phone triage system and it made getting to see a doctor so difficult,” she said.

“I was very concerned about something while pregnant, but missed several call backs from the GP and meanwhile my issues escalated.

“I think there are real risks to a system that relies on someone contacting you by phone before you can go in - which sounds like will be the case for this system.”

Ms Jupp, of The Mall, says she hopes surgery staff will “keep an open mind” and alter the system if it is not effective.

“I think technology can help manage demand, but the danger is that it is the more vulnerable patients who might lose out,” she added. “I do think Newton Place is a wonderful surgery, however, and the staff work very hard, and myself and my three kids have had great service from them.”

Newton Place Surgery has been asked to comment.

What do you think? Email favershamnews@thekmgroup.co.uk

To keep up-to-date with all the latest developments with your local hospitals and other health stories, click here

Read more: All the latest news from Faversham