BOSSES at a doctors surgery say they hope to re-open their doors by Christmas after a fire ripped through the town centre practice.

Four fire crews battled the blaze at the Queensway Surgery and Pharmacy, Queensway, Southend on September 9.

The whole building has suffered smoke damage, and the part of the building where the fire started has been badly damaged.

The cause of the fire was found to be accidental.

Patients have been moved to surgeries in Sutton Road, Pantile Avenue and Southchurch Road, and bosses also plan to have a portacabin at the Queensway car park.

A clinical commission group spokesman said: “The surgery has been badly damaged by smoke and water and will be out of operation for two to three months whilst cleaning and repairs are carried out.

“Currently patients are being seen by the branch site at Sutton Road and additional clinical rooms are being used at the old St Luke’s portacabin off Pantile Avenue and at Warrior House in Southchurch Road.

“Works will commence this week to put additional portacabin space on the Queensway car park site that will include clinical rooms and a patient waiting area.

“We are being told that the main building could be back in use by Christmas and the practice will continue to communicate any updates with their registered population.”

Bosses say the Queensway Pharmacy in Southchurch Road will be opening an additional three hours, from 6:30pm until 9.30pm Monday to Friday for six weeks.

The health bosses are also reminding people of the importance of attending appointments particularly for Flu vaccinations and Learning Disability Health checks.

Firefighters were called to the blaze at 23.34pm and tackled the fire for roughly an hour before it was extinguished.

The building had a number of different rooms and areas but firefighters located the source of fire quickly and managed to get it under control quickly.

The fire was extinguished by 00:30am. Firefighters stayed at the scene for a futher 90 minutes.