UPDATE 1-Healthscope contacts Primary on Symbion bid-sources

(Recasts with comment from sources)

MELBOURNE, Sept 5 (Reuters) - Australian healthcare firm Healthscope Ltd (HSP.AX: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) has contacted advisers to Primary Health Care Ltd (PRY.AX: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) seeking a compromise deal in the bidding for for Symbion Health Ltd SYB.AX, a source close to Primary said on Wednesday.

Primary has said it might team up with private equity to bid for Symbion, which has already agreed to a A$2.9 billion ($2.4 billion) offer from private hospital operator Healthscope, amid strong demand for Australian healthcare assets as the country's population ages.

"I do know for a fact that (Healthscope Managing Director Bruce) Dixon did initiate contact with Primary's adviser, Caliburn, yesterday," the source said.

The Australian Financial Review newspaper had also reported on Wednesday that Healthscope had approached Primary over some accommodation over Symbion, in which Primary has a 20 percent stake.

But Dixon said in a statement the report was incorrect. Dixon said that Primary twice contacted him on Tuesday through a third party, with a proposition about Symbion's medical testing assets in New South Wales, Australia's most populous state.

He said he replied that the assets were core to Healthscope's plans and were not negotiable.

"There are no talks between Healthscope and Primary. Healthscope has no intention of entering into any discussions or deals with Primary in connection with the Symbion Health proposal," he said. Shaw Stockbroking analyst Brent Mitchell said Primary and Healthscope both wanted the same assets and any tie-up between the two companies was unlikely.