Community leaders have raised concerns for thousands of patients after a city medical practice decided to end its contract with the NHS.

Torry Medical Practice, in Oscar Road, which has 7,500 patients, has announced its doctors will no longer work at the surgery from the end of July.

The Evening Express understands the current practice will cease to exist in July, with the future of the building currently undecided, but Aberdeen City Health & Social Care Partnership is legally required to provide services for its patients.

The partnership’s chief officer Judith Proctor said: “Like many practices, Torry Medical Practice has experienced difficulties in maintaining a full practice team.

“The doctors have now come to the difficult decision to end their contract with NHS Grampian from the end of July.

“We are working with the doctors and the wider practice team to make sure services continue as usual during the next six months. There is no need for patients to worry or to change their practice.

“Over the coming weeks and months we will be working to ensure that services continue in Torry beyond July.

“There will be an opportunity to reshape services to make sure they meet the needs of the local community for the future. All patients will be kept fully informed of developments.”

Torry Community Council chairman Ron Pushkin said that the decision is “concerning” for the community.

He added: “I’m not sure what the future looks like for the practice, but they are asking for patients to remain with the GP and not switch to other practices.

“It’s hard to know what is going to happen, and to ask that of people who need GP services.”