Sydney-based Dr Lakshmanan wrote in a letter to The Border Mail he was saddened "to hear no more patients would be admitted and treated due to the lack of qualified doctors willing to act as VMO".

Speaking further to his letter, Dr Lakshmanan said after visiting a friend in the aged care facility at the hospital he learned "the hospital is practically not being used at all."

"Qualified and experienced nurses are there in the hospital but there is no VMO so there is no one to admit the acute patients," he said.

"I'm very sad to see modern facilities not being used ... the Holbrook community deserves more."

Dr Lakshmanan left Holbrook in 2013 after restrictions were placed on his licence by the NSW medical board.

"A couple of people in high places went against me," he said.

"Once you become reported and a black mark put on your name it is not that easy to get over the problem.

"I do work in Sydney part-time in a group so I do enjoy that.

"I was a long-time GP for 44 years and my interest in Holbrook is what made me write this letter."

The Border Mail revealed concerns in January that Dr Jan Reddy was the only VMO-qualified GP to treat patients at Holbrook, Henty and Culcairn health services.

Dr Lakshmanan said he would still be in Holbrook if his VMO status had not been taken away and said palliative care, post-operative cases and emergencies such as pneumonia were the sorts of things he once treated that he assumed were being directed to Albury in absence of a VMO.

"Dr Reddy is doing marvelous work and has now been there for 44, 45 years," he said.

"It's not that easy to get a qualified doctor to come to a country town like Holbrook - not a lot of doctors stay long-term like my generation did."

MLHD chief executive Jill Ludford said in a statement that all acute inpatient beds at Holbrook Hospital are open and the ED continued to be open 24 hours, seven days.

"A GP/VMO position to cover the ED and acute inpatient care is presently being advertised and will continue to be advertised until a suitably experienced candidate is found," she said.

"Recruitment to regional and remote areas is traditionally challenging nationwide.

"Patients who present to the ED are assessed and triaged by highly trained emergency Registered Nurses and their care needs determined.

"As is standard practice, patients requiring more acute care are transferred to the nearest appropriate hospital after being triaged.

"Holbrook Hospital is also supported by the MLHD Critical Care Advisory Service which links it to specialist medical advice via telehealth cameras and telephone.

"A GP is providing medical support to the aged care residents."

Residents are reminded to call triple zero (000) in an emergency or for general advice and information call Health Direct on 1800 022 222.