Dr Sue Fowlie and her husband Colin Steven have bought the business, which has over 2500 patients and will double its footprint when its premises are expanded in the next year.
Dr Fowlie, clinical director and practising GP at the centre, has worked there since 2016. She is also known outside the centre as the doctor who travels to rural events in a special orange caravan to do free rural health checks for farmers.
Trust chairperson Nicki Webster said the centre was moving into wonderful hands. "It is the best outcome for the bright future of the centre."
The medical centre celebrates 20 years in June and has two permanent GPs and a regular locum, a newly-graduated nurse practitioner, three nurses and an administration team behind the clinical team.
Dr Fowlie said she was grateful to be part of a team that worked toward giving the best care to patients.
The centre would expand to include an onsite pharmacy and more health professionals.
"We want to be able to provide the best care for our ever-growing community into the future," Dr Fowlie said. "Providing services that allow patients to access them without having to travel far matters, people’s health and wellness matters."
Trustees and the medical centre’s team are delighted about the change and everyone is looking forward to having Dr Fowlie at the helm.
Practice manager Emma Jaillet-Godin said improving the quality of service and maintaining health, independence and wellness in the community was important.
She said Dr Fowlie was a passionate and dedicated GP.
Dr Fowlie is part of the Ashburton service level alliance and sits on the Canterbury Clinical Network Alliance leadership team.
The governing trust will be wound up and money from the sale of the practice transferred to the Advance Ashburton Charitable Foundation, to be invested and be of benefit to the people of Rakaia for the generations to come.
