It comes after the East London NHS Foundation Trust (ELFT) announced it would be pulling out of the contract to run Rainham Health Centre in Upminster Road South.
Dagenham and Rainham MP Margaret Mullane met with the chief executive and chair of North East London NHS Integrated Care Board (ICB) to discuss the matter.
ELFT had taken over the surgery in March 2024 from Omnes as the third primary healthcare provider in four years.
NHS North East London advised that the withdrawal of ELFT from the contract was because it decided to “refocus its primary care services”.
Ms Mullane said her meeting with the ICB discussed the need for investment in health services in the area, and the frustrations of patients.
Ms Mullane said: “I made very clear that residents of Rainham and South Hornchurch have been badly let down over recent years in terms of GP and lack of local primary health care services.”
Fay Hough has been clear in her position as chair of the Rainham Patient Participation Group (PPG) that patients of the surgery have been left “fed up to the back teeth” of the “horrible cycle”.
NHS North East London (NEL) has confirmed that it has begun the process to identify a new provider for the health centre after the PPG voiced concerns over the prospect of being without one for months.
A spokesperson for NHS NEL said: “We have begun the process to identify a new provider for Rainham Health Centre, and as part of this we are actively engaging with patients, the practice’s patient participation group, staff and local stakeholders to ensure they are kept fully informed.
“The feedback they provide will be closely considered as specifications for the new contract are drawn up.
“We fully acknowledge the uncertainties that patients and staff at Rainham Health Centre are continuing to face and we will work closely with colleagues at ELFT, and with the incoming provider once appointed, to minimise disruption and facilitate a seamless transfer of services to the new contract-holder.
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“Our priority is ensuring that all patients at Rainham Health Centre have ongoing access to safe, high-quality primary care services.”
Once the process is complete to replace the provider, they added that patient records including care plans and ongoing treatment notes will be transferred.
This includes the transfer of staff at the practice to the new provider.
