Health chiefs are still considering a “long-term solution” for a north-east GP surgery that has been closed for almost a year.
Gardenstown residents have not been able to visit a local doctor for 10 months while NHS Grampian continues to search for a “long-term solution” for the community.
In the meantime, patients have to travel to Macduff for treatment.
But while local people are still able to collect prescriptions from the surgery, there is a growing fear in the village that it will never truly reopen.
And last night, a spokeswoman for NHS Grampian said there was “no change” to report.
She said: “We appreciate the inconvenience this closure is causing people in Gardenstown and we thank them for their patience and understanding.
“Aberdeenshire Health and Social Care Partnership are working closely with the practice to come up with a sustainable, long-term solution for Gardenstown residents.”
The surgery has been closed since last September, when staff illness and the departure of doctors first forced residents to make their own arrangements to visit practices in neighbouring towns.
Local MSP Peter Chapman has now written to health bosses to seek answers.
Branding the affects on Gardenstown as “disastrous”, the Conservative said: “My first concern is for those directly affected by the reduction in services in the local area.
“The staff shortages which have lead to the closure of Gardenstown are disastrous for the rural communities in particular.
“I hope that NHS Grampian is taking the necessary steps to be in a position to reopen both practices as soon as possible. I feel that without these practices, rural communities will be further cut off from the health services that they need and deserve.”