Wairoa doctor crisis averted

Wairoa's latest doctor crisis has been averted after a local group bought a medical practice that faced closure.

Wairoa GP Paddy Grant had been unable to find a buyer for his surgery, one of the largest in the district, and more than 3000 patients would have been without a doctor when he left.

But a group led by nurse Marion Terry has bought the practice and Dr Grant will stay until the end of October to help recruit a new GP.

"I'm delighted from my own point of view, and for the patients," he said. "This means a crisis has been averted."

He said it would now be easier to find a replacement GP, because the group was not looking for someone to buy the practice.