The Department of Health has confirmed that the operators of one of Northern Ireland's biggest medical practices have handed back their contract to deliver GP services.
The operators of the Maple Healthcare in Lisnaskea declared their intention in a letter last week.
They cited "excessive stresses and intolerable pressures" at work as some of the reasons for handing back the contract.
Read more: New GP appointed for North Belfast medical centre
But they are also hopeful a solution could emerge over the coming months, BBC NI reports.
"The remaining partners find it inconceivable that they could continue to carry the burden of responsibility of running the practice," they said.
Patients have been reassured that services will continue at the Co Fermanagh practice for the next six months.
The operators added that if another contract holder could be found to assume responsibility for the provision of services, then the current team of doctors could continue to deliver for patients.
"If we can keep together, we are hopeful that high-quality clinical services can continue uninterrupted," they said.
In a statement, the Department of Health confirmed that Maple Healthcare in Lisnaskea have handed back their contract to deliver GP services.
A DoH spokesperson added: "We want to reassure patients that Maple Healthcare will continue to retain the contract to deliver GP services for the next six months.
"We will now begin a recruitment process to put new arrangements in place to deliver GP services.
"Patients at the practice do not need to take any action. They should continue to contact their practice as normal.
"We will be writing out to all practice patients to keep them informed as this process begins."
The health centre now has over 14,000 patients on its books, as a result of other surgery closures in the area when neighbouring GPs retired in Lisnaskea, Newtownbutler and Roslea.
Roslea GP surgery closed in early 2017, leaving the border village without a doctor for the first time in 170 years. This has meant residents now have to make a 35-mile round trip to Maple Healthcare to see a GP.
It is understood one option would be for the Western Trust to take on the management of the Lisnaskea practice.
Over 20 GP surgeries across Northern Ireland are at imminent risk of closure, according to the British Medical Association.
Nine practices have now handed back their contracts.
The news comes just a day after a new GP was secured for a North Belfast medical centre that was also at risk of losing services.
In July, it was announced that the partners of Grove Medical Practice on York Road would no longer be providing GP services from December 31.
Last week, the Western Trust confirmed the suspension of emergency general surgery services at South West Acute Hospital in Enniskillen from 18 December.
The Trust said it has been unsuccessful in efforts to recruit consultant general surgeons to the hospital and it would be unsafe to operate its emergency surgery services.
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