Patients have just hours left to try and save two neighbouring doctor’s surgeries.

Veteran GP Dr Robert Mennie retires at the end of May, after serving Allington for 32 years, the majority at Allington Park on Newbury Avenue.

Allington Clinic’s Dr Mayur Vibhuti has served his notice and patients have been warned both surgeries could close on May 31. Both practices combined serve 5,000 people.

Tomorrow (Friday) is the deadline to submit views as part of a consultation.

Maidstone and The Weald MP Helen Grant said closures would be “extremely damaging to the local community”.

In a letter to the CCG, councillors Dan Daley and Rob Bird wrote: “It must have been obvious for many months this outcome was likely and to allow it to get to this serious stage where both cease together on the same date, is really unforgivable.

Despite alternatives such as a new surgery in Castle Road car park scrapped, NHS West Kent Clinical Commissioning Group says the surgeries still have a chance to continue.

Chief operating officer Gail Arnold said: “It is not necessarily the case the practices will close.

“It is our priority to ensure all patients have ongoing access to local GP services and care after May 31 and we are writing to all affected patients to outline alternative arrangements.”

But she did acknowledge some people may need to register with a new GP.

Following tomorrow’s deadline, the CCG is expected to make a decision on the surgeries in the next two weeks.

To give feedback, email wkccg.primarycare@nhs.net or write to Primary Care Team, NHS West Kent CCG, 6th Floor, Maidstone House, King Street Maidstone ME15 6JQ.