Patients of a GP surgery in Popley that suddenly closed down this morning have been left in the dark over when they can get their hands on potentially life-saving medicine.

Thousands of people have been affected after Shakespeare Road Medical Practice turned patients away this morning and advised they could not provide appointments or prescriptions until further notice.

It has left people requiring urgent prescriptions and medical appointments unsure where to turn, including one mother who will run out of prescription formula milk for her 5-month-old baby within days.

The Hampshire CCG has advised any Bermuda and Marlowe patients that community pharmacies or 111 will be able to help with prescriptions and medical advice "over the next couple of days".

You can find out more about the closure here.

Now, patients affected by the closure have been speaking to The Gazette about how it has impacted them.

They include one mother just days away from running out of prescription formula milk and a man unable to get his hands on potentially life-saving insulin.

Collette Machin's five-month-old son, Hudson, is dairy and lactose intolerant and has been prescribed special formula milk.

The 26-year-old says that she has 2-3 days worth left before she runs out, and can't feed him regular formula milk as it causes bloating and pain in his stomach, as well as vomiting.

She told The Gazette: "I need to get repeat prescriptions every couple of weeks. As nobody said it was closed I have gone to order it and had no answer.

"If I was clueless about how it works, I would not have known where to get it.

"I am going to have to go through 111. The doctors surgery hasn't done nothing for anybody [to let them know about the closure]."

Andover Advertiser: Collette and 5-month-old son HudsonCollette and 5-month-old son Hudson

She added she was frustrated to hear the news of the closure via Facebook, rather than being told by her surgery.

"It is quite a scary thought," the stay at home mum commented about the uncertainty, "especially where I don't breast feed and he is on special milk.

"It is not like I can just go and buy normal milk, it will make him ill."

Meanwhile, Robyn Hill was left stressing about how she will have stitches removed, after undergoing surgery in connection with endometriosis earlier this week.

The 25-year-old had her elective surgery to remove cysts on her ovaries postponed a number of times because of Covid, but finally went under the knife on Monday.

Andover Advertiser: Robyn Hill was left not knowing whether she would be able to get her stitches removed.Robyn Hill was left not knowing whether she would be able to get her stitches removed.

She called her GP surgery at Shakespeare Road on Tuesday afternoon at 4pm to book an appointment for the stitches to be removed, and was left in a panic when she heard the news that the surgery was turning patients away.

Robyn phoned again on Wednesday, only to be told to call 111 and unable to get any news on her appointment.

In the end, she had to call the ward at Winchester hospital where she had the operation, who agreed to take the stitches out for her.

"I didn't even get told," she said. "They have a text system so they could have send a text out.

"I think everyone would have been fine with that.

"If my stitches haven't healed, then I can't go back to work.

"I feel so stressed. It has taken me an hour to get through to my specialist's secretary and I have had to speak to them about what I should do for my care."

Robyn's husband, Mark, is also affected by the closure.

He is type-one diabetic and relies on insulin injections to control his condition.

The 35-year-old has enough supplies to last him for a couple of days, but requires regular repeat prescriptions.

"I can't order any of my medication. I have spoken to my specialist team at Basingstoke hospital and they didn't know [what was happening with the surgery].

Andover Advertiser: Robyn and Mark have both been affected by the closure of the Shakespeare Road surgeryRobyn and Mark have both been affected by the closure of the Shakespeare Road surgery

"For me it is life threatening because if I don't get my medication I could go into a coma and die.

"I don't have anyone to ask or speak to. I am nervous and panicking at the moment."

He said that after speaking to 111 and Bramblys Grange, the surgery taking over Bermuda and Marlowe, he didn't think there was a plan for long-term medical care.

"It is not just me, there are plenty of people that have got prescriptions," Mark added, saying that his specialist team advised him to go to A&E if he runs out of insulin.

"Think of the influx that would lead to in A&E because I am not the only diabetic in Basingstoke."

A statement from Dr Matt Nisbett, from the CCG, advised patients that the organisation had arranged for community pharmacies and the 111 service to deal with prescriptions and test results "over the next couple of days", adding that patients who require medical advice should contact 111.