Patients will be able to have blood tests at the Rochester Healthy Living Centre for at least six more months.

A notice appeared in the centre on Delce Road saying the contract for the phlebotomy walk-in service would not be available from today and redirected people to Bailey Drive in Gillingham.

Yesterday, the clinical commissioning group confirmed the Thorndike Surgery had decided to close the service and said it was working hard to provide a temporary service until a permanent provider could be found.

But, talks continued and the CCG, responsible for buying and planning health care, has announced the service will reopen on Thursday.

Stuart Jeffery, chief operating officer at Medway CCG, which is responsible for planning and buying local NHS services, said: “The Thorndike Surgery will continue to provide the phlebotomy service at Rochester Healthy Living Centre.

“Over the coming months we will be discussing with them how this service is provided for the long term benefit of patients in Rochester.

“In the meantime, the service will reopen on May 3.”

The initial announcement caused concern among local people.

Glennis Russell, 57, who lives on Copperfield Road, said: “I don’t think it’s fair, there are a lot of pensioners that go there and some are quite frail.

“Making them try and get to Gillingham is absolutely appalling.

“The closest one is Strood but even then, they would need to get two buses.”