A doctor’s surgery which closed after it was criticised by a health watchdog is expected to reopen before Christmas.

The news about Lakeside Medical Centre in Milton Regis was announced by Cllr Mike Whiting at a meeting of Swale council last week.

For the last four months people registered there have been visiting clinics at Sittingbourne Memorial Hospital, which is three miles away.

The move came after its sole GP, Dr Bijan Saha, announced his retirement on June 27 after the practice was criticised in a Care Quality Commission (CQC) report as being an “unacceptable risk” to its 2,628 patients.

It had also failed to meet any of the 11 standards checked.

NHS England (Kent and Medway) said Dr Saha had taken on four GPs from Swale as partners at the centre in Todd Crescent and that it would “stay open” during the transfer.

But when patients arrived on June 30 it was closed.

Those wanting an appointment were told alternative arrangements were in place at Sheppey Community Hospital in Minster.

Days later it was announced the site would remain closed while “contractual problems” were ironed out over the building’s leasehold.

It’s understood those issues have now been resolved and that The Minster Medical Group will take over the running of it.

Cllr Whiting said: “My understanding is that all the necessary agreements are in place and it is now a matter of getting some building work done to bring the surgery up to the standards required by the NHS before it can open.

“We are now in the home straight to get this much-needed facility open once again.”

MP Gordon Henderson who has been liaising with Dr Saha about the matter, said: “It’s good news in the long term. I very much hope the work will take place as soon as possible and it will be open to patients before Christmas.

“In the meantime, patients will continue to be seen at Sheppey Community Hospital or Sittingbourne Memorial Hospital and if people have difficulty getting to either places they will be seen at home.”

A spokesman for NHS England (Kent and Medway) said: “We are pleased to report that significant progress has been made between the respective parties regarding a new lease and arrangements through which the required improvement works to the Lakeside Surgery are to be undertaken and we are hopeful that a way forward will be agreed very shortly.”