Erith and District Hospital's urgent care centre will close to patients from 8pm - two hours earlier than it does now.

Patients have been expressing their worries about finding other urgent care units in the area during an emergency.

On Facebook, one patient said the move was "madness" and would put extra pressure on other centres instead.

Bexley's Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) has issued advice to patients and defended its decision, arguing it will allow doctors to provide higher quality care to patients in need.

It has also stated it will not stop treating people at 8pm, and will continue to offer treatment until 10pm.

However, it will not admit any new patients who arrive after 8pm.

A spokeswoman for the CCG said: “Erith UCC opens 8am–10pm every day. If patients arrive with just minutes to spare before closing time, it's not possible to complete treatment before the entire site is closed and locked up at 10pm.

"From September 1, the last patients will be admitted at 8pm so they can be safely seen by 10pm and everyone can leave the site when it shuts.

“Patients in Bexley can also receive medical advice from their local pharmacist, NHS on line, NHS choices, their GP and from the 111 service.

"The UCC at Queen Mary’s Hospital is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and nearby A&Es can treat life-threatening conditions.”

However, some patients have argued that if the centre stops admitting patients at 8pm, that is "the same as closing".