A hunt has been launched to find new GPs to run a busy Aberdeen health centre with thousands of patients.
Bids are being invited to take over the Carden Medical Practice in the city.
In October, the future of 9,000 patients at the site was thrown into doubt after the current partners chose to end their contract with the NHS.
But now, a new awarding of contact notice has been published online, inviting bids from anyone who is keen to take on the service.
Patients have been reassured that if the search fails, the NHS will take it on directly and it will be managed by the Aberdeen City Health and Social Care Partnership.
There have been several closures in the city in recent times, with Rosemount Medical Group having to transfer 4,000 of its patients to other facilities across the city last year.
The number of surgeries in the NHS Grampian area, meanwhile, has declined from 84 in 2008 to 73 in 2018.
The contract notice reads: “This is a significant opportunity for an interested party to hold a general medical services contract for an established registered population of circa 9,000 patients.
“The successful contractor will be expected to deliver the full range of core general medical, additional, and enhanced services.
“Services will be provided from an ample purpose-built leased building. Currently, a small area of the building is shared with another independent business.”