A GP practice in Dundee has been taken over by NHS Tayside because of problems recruiting doctors.
Lochee Health Centre has been taken over by the local board amid difficulties which were experienced by the previous partnership.
It comes in the wake of a national shortage of trained practitioners.
Dr Andrew Cowie, chairman of Tayside Local Medical Committee and a GP at Hawkhill Medical Centre, said it would be a “disaster” if the centre closed. But he insisted the health board is “doing everything it can” to prevent it.
He said: “There is no one who wants Lochee to close because it’s essential to the vulnerable population.
“If it shut you’d also have the issue of asking practices which are already stretched to take on patients at short notice. The board is working very hard to keep Lochee open I can tell you there isn’t anyone involved who wants it to close.
“There are concerns about Lochee and there are great difficulties in getting GPs to staff it.
“The issue is that there aren’t enough GPs you can’t just magic doctors from nowhere.”
A spokeswoman for NHS Tayside said, as the previous GP partnership was dissolved, in accordance with national guidelines the responsibility for running of Lochee Health Centre reverted to NHS Tayside.
She added: “There are no plans to close Lochee Health Centre.”
The centre was transferred to NHS Tayside at the start of March.
The spokeswoman added: “Lochee Health Centre continues to deliver healthcare services to its registered patients.