Queenstown-based Dr Val Miller, who has practised in the resort since 1983, and Gibbston-based Dr Anne-Thea McGill, who has about 35 years’ GP experience, are opening Arrowtown Medical & Health from mid next month, in the same location as the previous clinic, which was operated by Queenstown Medical Centre (QMC).
When QMC announced six months ago it would be closing the Berkshire St clinic to move to an enlarged premises at Frankton’s Remarkables Park, Arrowtown Village Association chairman Nick Fifield called it "a huge blow" to the township.
QMC boss Ashley Light said with its Berkshire St lease up for renewal, it had decided the premises would not suit its needs for another 10 to 15 years.
He cited the building’s age, size, limited parking and rent level.
However, Dr Miller said landlord John Guthrie had been "extremely welcoming and supportive".
On hearing Arrowtown Medical Centre was closing, she had rung Mr Guthrie, partly in jest, to suggest his sons developed another centre.
Mr Guthrie had put her in touch with Dr McGill’s partner, and the two doctors decided to take over the clinic themselves.
Considering Arrowtown’s size and demographic, QMC’s exit "was a very unusual decision", because there were a lot of elderly people who might not be able to drive and mothers for whom driving might not work, Dr Miller said.
"We’re really keen to service this whole community. I just can’t believe it would have been left without a doctor, so we’re the ones," Dr McGill said.
They would offer "an old-fashioned" family practice, run Monday to Friday, with possibly a Saturday morning clinic, too.
She had an interest in nutrition and obesity — the subject of her PhD — and gut health, so would offer that specialty, she said.
Dr Miller said she would undertake minor skin cancer removals, and added the practice would offer "basic general practice A&E".
They would like to have "some gender balance", so would look for another doctor to join them, she said.
They also planned to employ other staff, including nurses.
