Confused patients descended on a GP surgery after the surprise announcement it would close, leaving more than 2,500 people to re-register at another practice.

Gray's Medical Practice will close in September after Manchester-based GP provider IMH terminated the contract.

Representatives from IMH, NHS England and Kingston CCG were at the Orchard Gardens surgery yesterday to answer questions from patients.

So many turned up to the 11am meeting it had to be done in two parts because the room provided was not big enough.

Some 2,500 patients were sent consultation letters last week asking them whether they would like to see a new provider procured for the surgery or the lists "dispersed" to other surgeries.

Kathryn McDermott from Kingston CCG assured patients a GP service would remain on the site and added that her preferred choice would be for neighbouring Orchard Practice, which has about 6,000 registered patients, to take over the building.

She said: "I would like to see [Gray's] take over. If we have to go through a procurement process it will be long and costly.

"I would rather see that money go into frontline services. What I can guarantee is that these premises will continue to provide GP services."

Omid Gilanshah from NHS England added: "We are going to do as much as we can to ensure that services work from this site and whoever comes in will provide a high quality, value for money services."

While patients were assured that a doctors surgery in some form will remain on the site, about 30 practice staff are unsure about their future.

Neighbouring Gosbury Hill Health Centre, also run by IMH and which shares staff with Gray's, will also close on September 30 following a public consultation last year.

The walk-in centre that was based there is in the process of moving to Surbiton Health Centre.

A staff member said: "We have no idea what is going on. We were only told that the practice was closing when the letters to patients went out.

"This should be more about the patients."