RESIDENTS of Newcastle's western suburbs are celebrating news that a new medical practice will open in Elder Street, Lambton, next week.
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Seventy-three days after Primary Health Care closed the Lambton Family Medical Centre with one day's notice, The Elder Street Practice will open on the same site on June 1.
The practice, which is not associated with Primary Health Care, will be taking appointments from this Friday.
Four of the former practice's doctors - Salomi Roy, Karen Buckner, Catherine Girdler and Tonia Bultitude - will be available to see patients.
Legal restrictions have prevented the doctors from discussing the new venture.
Dr John Fluit, who is working at Elermore Vale, is yet to announce whether he will work at the practice.
The former practice's administrative staff have also been employed.
The former practice had about 11,000 patients on its books when it was closed on March 19.
Primary Health Care said at the time that it was unable to renegotiate a lease with the building's owner.
The company redirected patients to its Charlestown Medical and Dental Centre, however, most did not take up the option.
Many contacted The Herald to complain about difficulties obtaining their medical records from Primary Health Care, which has since given an undertaking to release them.
The company has also threatened legal action against Dr John Fluit, who it claims breached the terms of a sale contract by working at Elermore Vale, which is within a five-kilometre radius of Elder Street.
News of the new practice spread throughout the surrounding community last night.
"The closure of that [former] practice was the most disgraceful thing I've ever seen," Lambton resident Jack Preston, 84, said.
"The staff are wonderful and I'm looking forward to going back."
Michelle Walsh said the former practice was a vital part of her family's health care.
"I was filthy when it closed but I'm delighted we will be able access our doctors again - we really need it," she said.
GP Access chief executive Mark Foster said he was happy a GP service would would again operate in Lambton, which has been served by a doctor's surgery for 108 years.
"We hope Primary Health Care will allow the practice to meet the needs of the community without pursing action against its doctors," he said.
