A question mark hangs over the future of a GP practice after its building unexpectedly went on sale for almost a million pounds.

But doctors at Ramsgate’s Newington Road Surgery, who care for 7,400 patients, say they have “no intention of moving” despite the surprising revelation.

A new team recently fought to bring the medical centre out of special measures and into the ‘Requires Improvement’ category this year.

It comes as Kent’s wider GP crisis deepens, with some patients struggling to see a medic while doctors staged a three-day hospital walkout over pay.

Speaking shortly after the building was advertised for £900,000, a surgery spokesman said: “We are aware that our practice building has recently been placed onto the open market for sale.

“We are fully committed to continuing to provide our service from our current location and have no intention of moving.

“We have had an agreement for some time to purchase the practice premises and we intend to complete this process.”

However, KentOnline understands while there had been a period of exclusivity between the landlord and the tenant, this has now elapsed.

Terence Painter Estate Agents says on Rightmove the property could “be suitable for investment or lend itself to a number of alternative uses or redevelopment.”

Should it be sold to a new owner, there is no guarantee the surgery would be able to stay put – with the current rental agreement not transferring over.

“It creates a bit of uncertainty for patients and the surgery but the owners have to look at it from their position – they need the property to be sold,” a spokesperson from the estate agent said.

They added: “The ideal situation would be for the current occupiers to move ahead with their purchase so hopefully that can be achieved.”

The detached two-storey site is located on the corner of Newington Road and Beaufort Avenue, Ramsgate.

It comes with 20 rooms, four toilets and a lift as well as parking spaces for 12 cars.

Thanet District Council leader and Newington ward representative Rick Everitt told KentOnline he’d like to see clarity on the situation sooner rather than later.

“The surgery is an important asset for people in the area and I would be concerned if there was any move or any change to the arrangements there,” he said.

“I would say primary care is under considerable pressure and I don’t think uncertainty over the future of local services can ever be a good thing.

“Whether it’s exactly as it is, what we need to ensure is that there are good local services for those residents and that they’re not inconvenienced by having to travel further afield.”

Although CQC continues to rate the surgery as requiring improvement, staff at the facility have worked hard to bring the practice back on track after previously being placed into special measures and told the service was inadequate in February 2022.

Inspectors told Newington Road in its last inspection in November 2022 “there had been significant improvements to the practice since the previous inspection” and spoke of how “staff dealt with patients with kindness and respect”.

The surgery was taken out of special measures following the findings.