Concerns have been raised after it emerged that a Black Isle community was going to be left relying on locum GPs and others based 15 miles away.
NHS Highland admitted last night that the temporary arrangements for the Cromarty Practice were “not ideal” and apologised to patients.
The health board promised to put alternative arrangements in March after the local GPs announced that the existing partnership at Cromarty would end on June 30.
The doctors said at the time that the current model was “no longer sustainable”, with chronic recruitment problems meaning that staff could not move jobs or retire.
NHS Highland confirmed yesterday that it would take on responsibility for patients registered with Cromarty Practice from Monday, July 3.
Services will be provided through a mixture of locum cover, with input from GPs based at the Munlochy Practice, also on the Black Isle.
Emergency on the day appointments will continue to be available, but in some cases patients may have to travel 15 miles to Munlochy.
The health board said that the temporary arrangements had been put in place because it was “not yet been able to recruit” GPs.
Last night, Cromarty-based councillor Craig Fraser said: “We’ve got an ageing population and a lot of vulnerable people in Cromarty so we need something more permanent in place.
“I think the community deserve a more stable situation. We’re at the end of the line and have a 25 to 30-mile journey to get to Raigmore, people forget that.
“This has been rumbling on for a number of weeks and we need to have something more concrete in place. We need this to be top of NHS Highland’s list of things to do.”
Dr Stewart MacPherson, NHS Highland’s clinical director for south and mid, said: “I recognise the arrangements are not ideal and I would like to apologise to patients for any inconvenience.
“As well as not being able to recruit GPs to take on the practice we have also not been able to secure enough locum doctors.
“I am extremely grateful to colleagues in the Munlochy Practice for stepping in and providing contingency cover.”
He added: “Attempts to recruit have not been successful, however we did have some expressions of interest and I remain hopeful we will secure a more permanent solution in due course.
“Until this is resolved, patients can be reassured that NHS Highland will be responsible for providing the service.
“Going forward we may have to think quite differently around what the new model will look like but we will look at any options in discussion with local people and staff.”
