The clinic has been without a doctor since July 12 – just five days after the GRHC board appointed Alan Hayes, of Hayes Advisory, as voluntary administrator.

Last month, Mr Hayes revealed he had found a “medically and financially capable” party to purchase the right to run a medical and allied health practice from the building.

But a final decision on the sale – yet to be made – is in the hands of the federal Department of Health and the state government’s Hunter New England Health District. 

Mr Hayes has confirmed the preferred buyer as Mackellar Care Services, who “have continued at pace to prepare for the re-opening of the GRHC, have expended funds and much effort in doing so”.

Mackellar Care Services has elicited approaches for seven doctors ready to commence work and also engaged various professional experts to assist with the clinic’s re-opening, according to a circular to creditors dated September 29.

Mr Hayes is hoping a decision on the clinic’s future can be reached sooner rather than later, so as not to further affect patients and the economy.

“The delay in re-opening the GRHC is reducing the return to creditors down from 100 cents in the dollar, the vast majority of those living in and around Gunnedah,” the circular stated.

Mr Hayes also said the delay could prevent the commencement of additional doctors working and living in Gunnedah, as well as risk the addition of more doctors working in the hospital’s emergency department. 

He feared an extended closure would adversely affect care to local patients, and add considerable workload to the doctors already working in Gunnedah.

“As the liquidator, I recognise that the government authorities must comply with procedures to protect the community,” Mr Hayes told The Leader on Monday.

“However, the time they’re taking is very frustrating for patients, creditors and the community generally, and it would be a shame if this unexplained delay endangered the delivery of the Gunnedah Rural Health Centre’s primary objective i.e. delivery of GP, medical and allied health services to the Gunnedah community.”

As of late last week, HNEH was still conducting due diligence of the provider and the agreement.

Both federal Parkes MP Mark Coulton and Tamworth MP Kevin Anderson have pledged their support to have the $6.2 million clinic re-opened, which opened its doors in 2012.

No one from Mackellar Care Services was available to comment on Monday.