THE Brambles Surgery in Brentwood is to be closed, leaving around 1,500 patients needing to find an alternative doctor.
The Geary Drive health centre was brought under new the management of Malling Health, a private healthcare provider, in March last year.
But the business, which has several centres dotted around the country, have now confirmed it is set to close at the end of September.
Letters are currently being sent out detailing the plans to patients.
There are concerns that the borough's existing surgeries are already overstretched and overall healthcare provision in the town will suffer as a result of the closure.
Nigel Williams, 55, from Pilgrims Hatch, was dismayed at the news.
He said: "The surgery has less than 2,000 patients but we will all now have to be shunted to other surgeries that are already overstretched. I think it's a disgrace and something should be done.
"My wife is at New Surgery which is where I will probably go, but it has thousands of patients and I worry that it will be very difficult to get an appointment.
"I think The Brambles is a great surgery and it is such a shame that we are losing it.
"I feel very strongly about it. The way I see it is that the many of the other surgeries are very overstretched and you can't get in on the day. It has to be an emergency.
"It just seems to me that Malling Health were interested in making a quick buck and it seems not to have worked out for them. I just think something needs to be done.
"The surgery may not have very many patients, but it has been a building site for years."
The latest information shows that the surgery has a relatively modest number of staff with Dr Sohail Hameed, the sole GP, a practice nurse, a practice manager, a secretary and two reception staff.
A spokesman for NHS Property Services, which owns the building, said there were no plans to dispose of the building for development, even though a major housing development is being undertaken around it – Linden Homes and Bellway are currently redeveloping the former Highwood Hospital site into more than 200 homes.
Carolyn Larsen, head of primary care for Essex at NHS England, said: "Malling Health, which provides GP services from The Brambles, have confirmed their intention to cease running this service from 28 September 2013.
"NHS England is committed to ensure patients who currently use Bramble Practice have continued access to GP services.
"We have explored all available options around the future of this service and are writing to all patients registered at the Brambles to invite them to an engagement event to share their views.
"We are also having ongoing discussions with the management team at Malling and the overview and scrutiny committee about what this may mean for future service delivery."
