Plans to potentially close GP surgeries have been put off until at least April 2020, according to health officials.

A decision on proposals, which included closing the Sunlight GP Surgery in Gillingham and DMC Branch Surgery in Twydall, has been postponed following patient uproar.

Medway Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), which plans and buys health services for the area, has now agreed to reprocure operations across five GP surgeries – which also includes the Balmoral Healthy Living Centre in Gillingham, St Mary’s Island Surgery, and the Pentagon Centre in Chatham.

Health officials have committed to hold further public consultation on any service changes, meaning none will take effect for at least 18 months.

Tracy Rouse, director of primary care transformation at Medway CCG, explained at a meeting: “It wouldn’t be appropriate to start public engagement through the procurement and mobilisation – it wouldn’t be fair on staff and patients at a time of change with the GP contracts.

“The CCG has made a decision not to start any further engagement until the five sites are fully mobilised and the services in that locality are up-and-running.

“That takes us into purdah and council elections in May next year, so subsequently the CCG has made the decision to leave it as-is with the five sites until after the council elections.

“We will then start the consultation and engagement over the summer, with any potential changes to the services being no earlier than April 2020.”

A small number of campaigners who attended the health and adult social care overview and scrutiny committee meeting cheered as the announcement was made.

Cllr Teresa Murray (Lab) was told by Ms Rouse that none of the surgeries would be “run down”, and that all services would remain at the five sites until after the public consultation.

Cllr Wendy Purdy (Con) warned: “Always consult with the public and the service users”.

Meanwhile Cllr David Wildey (Con) added: “It is nice, although late in the day, you did listen to the public.”

In August, the committee expressed strong concerns about the lack of detail provided to patients, and how the consultation was carried out.

It formally requested any decision to be delayed.