Thousands of patients look set to lose their GP surgery after an application was submitted to turn it into a flat.

The popular Abbey Surgery in Howard Close, Waltham Abbey, is understood to be closing at the end of March, after the lease was not renewed.

A planning application has been lodged by Latchmore Properties to change the building’s use from a surgery to a single residential flat.

The doctors,  Dr Kalpana Misra, Dr Dev Sahni and Dr Balkisan Chandak, are said to be looking for alternative premises, but the search has so far been unsuccessful.

A 2013 patient survey found 85 per cent rated their experience at Abbey Surgery as good or very good.

Myrah Purton, 68, of Ninefileds Estate, and her husband Richard have been visiting the practise since it opened in 1993.

They said they were instructed to attend a surgery in Cheshunt seven miles away, despite being outside the catchment area.

Mrs Purton said: “I am absolutely gutted there is no alternative for us.

“Dr Misra is so lovely, she is wonderful. She has helped my entire family through massive problems, as well as all my friends.

“They have so many patients, most of whom are elderly. I have no idea how they will get to Cheshunt, or even if they are in the catchment area.

“She and the other doctors will be absolutely impossible to replace.”

Her husband Richard, 71, agreed saying: “[Dr Misra] never holds back you can go in with anything, any little quirk, and she works as quickly as possible.

“She is always telling me to lose weight because she genuinely cares."

“Even the receptionists are great and I hope they don’t find themselves out of work.”

The planning application says due to the building’s former use as explosives factory, a full investigation into potential contaminants on the site must take place.

Abbey Surgery refused to comment on the potential closure.

In a new series on the NHS, the Guardian will feature experiences of patients, their families and staff of treatment provided across east London and west Essex. As A&Es continue to struggle with demand and politicians argue over the future of healthcare, we will publish first-hand accounts, features and news stories on the latest developments. We want to hear from you if you have something to say about your local hospital, GP surgery, or clinic. Click here for contact details of reporters covering your area. Alternatively, you can submit a story here.