Patients who have been kept in the dark about the future of their health centre have branded the situation “an utter disgrace”.

East Barnet Clinic was closed in June 2014 after asbestos was discovered in the building and was due to be reopened in September. But more than eight months later, it is still shut.

In the meantime, patients have been forced to travel to the Vale Drive Clinic in High Barnet for treatment, which is a 30-minute walk or a 15 to 20-minute bus ride.

Helen Pryce, a practice member, said: “It’s absolutely appalling. I think it’s disgusting that a health centre – a basic right – has been shut for so long.

“What an utter disgrace. It’s such a major inconvenience to put people through, especially those who are unwell.”

Miss Pryce has launched Facebook group “East Barnet Health Centre: Come Home” to give patients a voice.

Mother-of-two Kerry Martin, 37, said: “It’s impossible – we are struggling without our clinic and we want to know when it’s going to come home.

“It’s been a huge nightmare and we need answers. It’s gone on too long.”

Ms Martin said she has struggled to get an appointment at Vale Drive – and after three days of trying, ended up being admitted to Barnet Hospital for inpatient treatment.

Grandma Karen Jones said: “It’s a joke. How are we supposed to get ourselves and our children to a health centre?”

Those who call for an emergency appointment at 8am are often told to visit the centre for 9am – which is impractical for those who visit the practice by public transport.

Frank Burling, who has been a member of the practice for 18 years, said his 86-year-old mother, who has dementia, has been left “confused” by its closure.

Annie Whiting, of Gillam Close, said the situation was “crazy” and that many have received parking tickets around Vale Drive due to heavy restrictions.

Vale Drive is near a number of schools and traffic can often be heavy, meaning many miss their appointment slots.

Jane Baines-Holmes said: “Many people who come here have cancer, MS and other illnesses and need regular and easy access to a health centre.

“This is robbing them of that right and some just don’t go to the doctor anymore because they don’t want the stress of the travel.

“Health centres are a basic right and people deserve more than this.”

Councillor Philip Cohen, a Labour councillor who sits on Barnet Borough Council’s health and scrutiny committee, has promised to raise it with his fellow councillors.

He said: “It’s worrying that this has been closed for so long and people have been kept in the dark.”

Although rumours that the centre is due to be demolished for housing have floated around, NHS Property Services say this claim is unfounded.

In a statement, they said: “In the interests of health and safety, these materials, once discovered, had to be removed, but on completion it was clear that the invasive work necessary to achieve this had caused significant cosmetic damage to the building.

“We have therefore decided to take this opportunity to look at the long-term measures we can take to make the property as good as possible for our tenants, their patients and the services they deliver.

“We are currently assessing the appropriate options which range from total refurbishment to brand new building on the same site. Once we have an agreed option, we will work closely with the GP practice and local NHS partners to deliver it as soon as possible.

“We fully recognise that the recent works have been both protracted and highly inconvenient for patients.”