A Gunnedah general practice may have to close its doors if it cannot attract more doctors, with its only remaining doctor resigning.
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Negotiations are under way at Mackellar Rural Health Centre to see what the future holds for the clinic.
Dr Jennifer Hunter has resigned and will leave on July 23, so the clinic's board is looking into short-term solutions.
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"Since we've received Dr Hunter's resignation, the Mackellar board has been in negotiations with other involved parties in the short-term looking for a locum replacement," Mackellar Care Services' chief executive officer Sandra Strong said.
"It's anticipated we would have further information within the next week."
Mrs Strong said once the information was available, they would be able to "communicate this to staff, patients, and the community".
NVI approached Mrs Strong about the future of the centre after being approached by concerned community members.
We need it.
- Concerned resident
"Someone's got to get involved in it ... we're going to have a shortage of doctors," a resident told the NVI.
"There was a big commotion about it when it closed down and everyone fought and got it back.
"We need it."
Mackellar Care Services' chief financial officer Gregory Barnes said he had "no idea" what was happening "going forward".
"We don't know and we can't say anything further," Mr Barnes said.
Hunter New England Health (HNEH) was approached, but did not provide a comment.
The clinic's history has been fraught with difficulty in recent years, closing in July 2017 after its last doctor left.
Mackellar Care bought the Gunnedah Rural Health Centre in November 2017 and re-named it Mackellar Rural Health Centre. The land is leased from HNEH.
The clinic was built in 2012 with funding from the state and federal governments, community fundraisers and mining companies.
