BONNELLS Bay Surgery has been acquired by Ochre Health, but patients will continue to see familiar faces in the doctors' rooms.
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The long-established surgery will continue to be led by its former owners of 28 years, Dr Mark Peterson and his wife Dr Clare Van Rooy.
The pair will also continue to be supported by the surgery's other three doctors, Dr Stella Rumsey, Dr Renata Fuljahn and Dr Adam Moody.
The surgery now operates as Ochre Medical Centre, Bonnells Bay.
Ochre Health, which boasts a network of 35 medical centres around the country, has plans over time to expand the number of doctors and the range of services available at the Bonnells Bay centre.
The surgery was established by Dr Peterson and Dr Van Rooy after they took a holiday to Lake Macquarie at the completion of their GP training.
When they discovered there was a pharmacy but no GP practice, the couple established the surgery, which was built in eight weeks.
It has expanded over the years to cater for eight doctors and four nurses, along with a range of allied health services, including physiotherapy, podiatry and psychology.
Dr Peterson said Ochre Health's acquisition of the surgery would provide important management and operational support for the doctors. Otherwise, for all the doctors and their patients, it will be business as usual.
"Despite the name change, everything at the practice will remain the same, from our operating hours and our billing policies, to our management of patient records," Dr Peterson said.
"Clare and I will be able to focus our energies on doing our medical work and looking after our patients in the same way as usual."
Dr Van Rooy, who specialises in women's health, said ensuring continuity of care for all patients throughout the transition had remained the surgery's top priority.
"Our surgery's acquisition by Ochre Health will reinforce its longevity in the community," Dr Van Rooy said.
"With Ochre's help, we can continue to provide a high level of quality care for our patients, with the long-term goal of continuing to grow quality health services in Bonnells Bay.
"Ochre will also help us to sustain our teaching of registrars. For instance, working with us is Dr Georgina Girdler, who is looking to advance her skills in obstetrics and gynaecology.
"Dr Jason Maher is another registrar who has recently joined the practice, and we will have further registrars joining us in the next few months."
Practice manager Karen Singleton-Turner said staff were pleased that the surgery would continue to offer the same high level of care to patients.
"We have a highly qualified team of doctors and allied health professionals who are well-known in the community, and who will remain at the practice to ensure our patients continue to receive excellent health care," she said.
