Hundreds of people are at risk of being left without a GP after their doctors’ surgery was earmarked for closure with just four weeks’ notice.

Patients at Deanhill Surgery, Deanhill Road, East Sheen, were sent letters this week that said NHS England would close the practice on February 20 at the request of the present contractor, Dr Antoine Sayer, who works at Richmond Green Medical Centre.

But senior doctor Roger Weeks, who was the sole principal contractor at the surgery from 1992 to 2012, said he was not aware of the decision until patients brought in copies of a letter sent on Monday, January 19.

The surgery was previously saved from closure by Dr Weeks, who postponed his retirement after being told it could be closed by the then primary care trust.

Dr Weeks wanted to retire in 2011, but took up a new contract to keep the practice open and look after vulnerable and elderly patients.

He also formed a partnership with Dr Sayer who, Dr Weeks said, found the practice a burden and wanted to quit six months ago.

Dr Weeks said: “I told Dr Sayer I wanted to take back the surgery as I believed it would be disastrous for most of the patients if the surgery were closed.

“Dr Sayer told me he was talking with NHS England and had told them of my offer so I was taken aback on Monday this week when patients came in with letters informing them of imminent closure.

“He [Dr Sayer] said he was surprised because he didn’t know they were going ahead with the closure. He wanted to get out of it, [but] he didn’t necessarily want to close the surgery.”

When contacted by the Richmond and Twickenham Times, Dr Sayer said: “I have no comment on that at all.”

The closure of the surgery would leave more than 1,900 patients without a GP. 

Workers at Dulmer Pharmacy, Upper Richmond Road West, feared the closure could affect their business.

An NHS England (London) spokeswoman said: “Dr Sayer at the Deanhill Surgery in East Sheen has informed us that he wishes to terminate his contract to deliver primary care medical services.

“Services will no longer be available at the surgery from February 20.

“We have written to all patients to inform them of his decision and have recommend that they re-register with another local surgery. There are five neighbouring practices, all within a 1.2-mile radius of Deanhill Surgery, who have confirmed to NHS England that they have the capacity and are willing to accept these patients.”

The spokeswoman added they could not comment on discussions between Dr Sayer and Dr Weeks.

A petition to save the surgery from closure can be signed at Dumlers Pharmacy, 495 to 497 Upper Richmond Road West, East Sheen.