Medical clinic property up for sale

ON MARKET: The Greytown Medical Centre property is for sale. PHOTO/PROPERTY BROKERS

Concerns have been raised over the sale of the Greytown Medical Centre building but the owner is reassuring patients the practice will continue as usual.

The land and buildings have been listed for sale on the Property Brokers website, which describes it as "a unique opportunity to develop an integrated South Wairarapa medical centre, or terminate the lease and develop for other purposes".

It is now leased to the centre with a right of renewal at the buyer's option. The property and practice is owned by one of the centre's doctors, Iynkaran Pathmanathan, better known as "Dr Nathan".

The property was earlier owned by IHC for use as a hostel and its recreation hall was converted into a medical centre in the 1990s.

Practice manager Lyn Olds, who spoke on Dr Nathan's behalf, said it was only the property being sold, not the business.

"The practice will carry on as usual, there's a long-term lease."

Primary health organisation Compass Health is aware of the sale - it is funded by Wairarapa District Health Board to ensure essential primary health care services are provided to residents, mainly through general practices.

Justine Thorpe, programme director for Wairarapa, said the practice would not be leaving Greytown.

"The owner [Dr Nathan] is keen to sell the building and the property but not the business."

She said he was selling it with the view that whoever bought it would lease it back to the medical business.

"The owner is keen to see it developed. The sale offer is part of an overall concept that includes rebuilding the medical centre in Greytown to provide more comprehensive local services. It is a positive thing."

Ms Thorpe said if the new owner wanted to develop something else, then the practice would be moved to another site in Greytown.

"The medical centre is definitely not leaving Greytown."

She said some patients had been asking about the sale.

"The community of Greytown can be reassured that the medical centre is not going anywhere. The owner really doesn't want people to worry."

Tenders on the property close early May.