A pensioner with diabetes believes he has been “unfairly” left without a GP after he was removed from his doctor's surgery's books - despite moving closer to the practice.

Hans-Peter Rehberg is relocating from School Lane, Iwade, to a new home in Canterbury Road, Sittingbourne later this month.

But the 82-year-old, who has been a patient at The Meads Medical Practice on Sonora Fields for 18 years, has now received a letter from the surgery saying he'll need to register for healthcare elsewhere.

The practice has said it is because his new property falls outside of their geographical catchment area - a decision taken by NHS surgeries in the UK to ensure their patients are given maximum care.

That is despite the new home being closer - 1.7 miles as the crow flies, compared to 1.8 miles from his current address.

In a letter seen by KentOnline, The Meads said it would be unable to continue to meet his needs and achieve its standards of clinical care.

It said that included being able to carry out home visits.

It added: “It is a cause of deep regret that we have to ask patients to register elsewhere, particularly where there has been a long-standing and trusting relationship, but we are mindful of the need to ensure that we can offer a comprehensive and high quality service which sadly is not the case from a distance. I do hope you understand our rationale."

The letter pointed him towards NHS England for help if he had difficulty finding a new doctor, but Mr Rehberg said he was not able to get through on the phone.

He explained the decision has left him "in limbo" and worried about receiving ongoing treatment for his Type 2 diabetes - medication he receives on behalf of the practice from Kamsons Pharmacy.

He explained: “As soon as I had access to my new flat, I received a letter suddenly telling me I couldn’t go to my surgery and had to register elsewhere in the next 28 days.

"What shocked me the most was that I was not given a different surgery, given I have Type 2 diabetes and am on a lot of medication.

"I have also had a triple bypass surgery, a stent in my chest and a pacemaker put in as well, so I am not very healthy and that's why I don't think I should be treated unfairly like this.

"It's made me feel awful and cry from time to time.

"Is this a vendetta against me? I just feel very bitter they are chucking me out.

"The new place is just as close to the surgery as my current home is so it’s very stressful.”

Although it is the responsibility of a patient to find a new surgery, the former minibus driver says he wishes the practice could have helped him more, given his age and that he does not have access to most forms of technology.

Mr Rehberg, whose letter from The Meads practice about having to find a new surgery was sent on April 27, says only on Thursday afternoon was he able to start a registration for a new doctor’s due to help from friends.

He added: "I travelled in person to visit The Meads, but they kept asking me to send emails which I don't have - I don’t have a computer too and have told everybody I have spoken to this.

“So this is difficult to accept because I don't have any family or anybody else I can ask - even my neighbours don't have a computer.

"So I’m just hanging in limbo and worried about my medication, because I think I need to be looked after by professionals who know me.

"I get tablets for my condition every four weeks by delivery, but I don't know what is going to happen now and when I move.”

The Meads Medical Practice did not respond to our request for a comment.