Health officials say they "remain hopeful" that a new contractor will be appointed to take over two key medical practices in Co Down.
It was announced in August that the current GP partners at Priory Surgery in Holywood, which incorporates Springhill Surgery in Bangor, will hand back their contract to health bosses early next year.
The practices will stop providing General Medical Services from February 1, 2023, if no new doctors can be found.
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The surgery operates out of two sites in Holywood and Bangor and provides GP services for 14,525 patients.
The announcement prompted a large number of Priory patients to attempt to register at another GP practice in the area.
The Department of Health subsequently introduced a temporary freeze on the movement of GP patients in practices in north Down, Ards and East Belfast until the end of August.
A search has been underway to identify a replacement GP contractor or groups of GPs to provide medical services for Priory and Springhill surgeries.
Alliance Party MLA Andrew Muir and party colleagues Stephen Farry MP and Connie Egan MLA recently met with senior officials from the department, British Medical Association (BMA) and Royal College of GPs (RCGP), where it was revealed that expressions of interest have been made by possible partners to take over the surgeries.
In response to an Assembly questions from the North Down MLA before he left office last week, Stormont's former Health Minister Robin Swann said there have been a number of expressions of interest put forward since a process was initiated to find a new contractor to take over the Priory & Springhill GMS.
He added: "Strategic Planning and Performance Group (SPPG) officers are currently engaging with potential new contract holders and I remain hopeful that one will be successful.
"Whilst I am hesitant to provide a timeframe, I can confirm that SPPG officers are working hard to find a solution that will ensure that the full range of GMS services are provided to all registered patients at Priory & Springhill Surgery from 1st February 2023.
"Patients and the wider public will be kept informed of any developments."
In response, Mr Muir said: "We are clear that all efforts must be made to secure and improve continuity of care for the over 14,000 patients affected, the second largest GP Practice in Northern Ireland.
"The Department of Health need to progress this process without delay whilst also preparing back-up plans involving the Trust taking over the operation. Whatever happens continuity of care and fully resourced practices able to offer full range of services at service standards must be maintained.
"The news around Priory and Springhill unfortunately comes in the context of wider crisis in our Health and Social Care system with reducing number of GPs, need for long term workforce planning aided by a multi-year budget blocked due to the DUP boycott of Stormont and shockingly long waiting lists.
"It is vital the Assembly is restored in order that we can start moving forward with the huge task of reforming our Health and Social Care system."
Last week, it emerged that Flax Medical Centre in Ardoyne has handed back its contract to the Department of Health. Unless a new GP is secured the practice, which provides health care for over 3,000 patients, it will close on December 31.
In July, the partners of Grove Medical Practice in North Belfast also announced that they will be unable to provide GP services from the end of this year. New GPs are being sought to take over at the medial practice on York Road from January 1, 2023.
Elsewhere, Ballymena Family Practice has handed back its contracts while the Western Trust recently took over the contract for Dromore and Trillick GP Practice in Co Tyrone, which was under threat following the previous doctor's resignation.
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