A legal row has been settled between Queenstown Medical Centre (QMC) and a medical centre that opened in the resort last month.
QT Pharmacy owner Greg Roberts opened the doors of Midtown Medical in O'Connell's Pavilion, in direct competition with Queenstown Medical Centre on Isle St.
Midtown has capacity for four doctors but has opened with just one general practitioner, Bruce McKinnon, and one nurse, Hillary Ross. Both are former employees of QMC.
Queenstown Medical Centre filed injunction proceedings because it alleged Dr McKinnon had breached a restraint of trade clause in his contract with QMC.
QMC's lawyer maintained Dr McKinnon was still obligated to a clause in his contract which prevented him from working for another practice within 40km of Queenstown for three months.
Mr Roberts said Dr McKinnon's contract with QMC had expired in February 2008 but he had been working as a locum on reduced hours since.
QMC chief executive Richard Macharg said yesterday the dispute had been settled after Dr McKinnon agreed to abide by the restraint terms.
"We believe that the integrity of our contract has been upheld ... We signed an agreement with Dr McKinnon and all we expected was him to stick to it."
