GPs in a Kent town are about to close their lists in advance of a practice closure which they say will overwhelm their surgeries.

Seven practices in Folkestone plan to apply to close lists, saying they cannot take any more patients.

The move comes as the town’s eighth practice, Folkestone East, announced its proposed closure because it cannot recruit GPs.

It has 4,500 patients.

According to Pulse, the practices believe the town needs another 16 doctors.

A joint statement said: “The practices have advised the Clinical Commissioning Group throughout that we are unable to take on more patients safely without long term investment in clinical staff as well as infrastructure to ensure the safe integration of these patients without jeopardising patient care for all residents of Folkestone.”

The move comes after more than 1,000 practices in a British Medical Association survey stated they would be willing to apply for list closures.

The South Kent Coast CCG said: “To support practices to take on new patients, the CCG will pay practices an additional £48 per patient to support any additional costs for the first year.

“This compares favourably with other patient distribution investments to recognise the specific issues in Folkestone.”

Local MP Damian Collins said: “What the GPs are saying is they would require additional resource to take on more patients.

“It is an important negotiation about the resource that will be required to be invested in order to accommodate additional patients at some of the additional practices.”