THE future of one of Braintree’s biggest GP surgeries has been thrown into doubt after the former partners sold the building.

St Lawrence Medical Practice, in Bocking End, could be forced to find a new home within weeks as the NHS prepares to open up the tender process for new providers.

The crisis comes as the current providers say they have solved many of the problems at the troubled practice, which serves nearly 15,500 patients.

Carole Theobald, locality director for NHS England (East), said: “NHS England is committed to finding a solution for the practice now and for the future in order for NHS England to go out to procurement for the new long term contract, which will start on June 1, 2016.

“It is envisaged that a premises solution will be confirmed within the next couple of months and that this will be communicated to staff and patients at the earliest opportunity.”

The former partners gave up the practice in March after being left with just two doctors, but they put the building on the market for £450,000.

The NHS agreed an interim 12-month contract with care company Provide, which will expire on June 1 next year- one day after the lease on the building runs out.

See this week's Braintree and Witham Times for the full story.