A GP surgery has been shut down because the building is too dangerous for staff and patients.

Doctor Subrata Basu senior partner at Knights Surgery, Knights, Laindon was told to vacate the premises by the Basildon and Brentwood Clinical Commissioning Group yesterday.

The doctor said the walls of the building are cracking and the floors are sinking.

The worried health professional said it’s been an ongoing issue with Basildon Council and says the council was expected to relocate the service with about 3,000 patients.

He said: “We will be moving to nearby Fryerns Medical Centre, temporarily but we don’t know what will be happening in the future.

“There is a plot of land about 100 yards away in Markhams Chase that the council was meant to give to NHS England for us to use but we haven’t heard anything from the council.

“Now the CCG says the building is unsafe and unsuitable so we have to close it.

“The building is falling apart and is moving, there’s big cracks all over the walls and the floors are uneven and they have sunken.

“Everyone seems to be dragging their feet and it’s such a slow process.

“We’ve been talking to Basildon Council for three years about this now.

“Patients have also been regularly complaining about and there was a petition with about 800 signatures but still nothing has been done.”

Patient Pat Greenways, 61, of Whitmore Way, Basildon said: “I cannot understand what’s happening with this.

“It is completely unacceptable.

“Doctor Basu is excellent and works so hard.

“We need a new surgery built on the land as expected.”

Councillor Aidan McGurran, from Basildon Council, said: “Knights surgery is fully leased to the GPs who occupy it and it is their responsibility to maintain the building.

“However, we have been working closely with the CCG, surgery and NHS England to identify a permanent replacement facility.”

“We are now working with them to find a suitable site for temporary healthcare facilities.”

Lisa Allen, clinical accountable officer for the clinical commissioning group, said: “Arrangements have been put in place for patients at Knights Surgery to access appointments at Fryerns Medical Centre, to ensure people are still able to access healthcare when they need it."

“We are working closely with NHS England and NHS Improvement, Basildon Council and Knights Surgery to explore all possible options for a longer-term solution for people in the local area.”