Dr Peter Rallings is behind the move which will see the home on the corner of Ferodale Road and Abundance Road converted into a medical centre to be called 'Health in Abundance'.

It is welcome news for the town which currently has a doctor-patient ratio of about 1:4000, more than double the 1:1500 figure recommended for Port Stephens by Hunter Urban Medicare Local (HUML).

Work on converting the building has already begun and Dr Rallings told the Examiner, weather permitting, he hoped to be operating out of the centre within the next eight to 10 weeks.

Dr Rallings confirmed he would work out of the practise full-time and said he was in preliminary discussions with two other doctors to possibly have them offering further medical services.

The doctor, who has spent the past three years working throughout the Port can also draw from more than 14 years experience working in Merriwa.

Dr Rallings said he selected Medowie as the site for his practice after he saw a need for doctors in the area and hoped his practice would help alleviate the pressure on the existing doctors in the area.

A HUML spokesman agreed saying even one additional doctor in the area would be beneficial for residents and other doctors alike.

"He will make an invaluable contribution to the Medowie GP workforce," the spokesman said.

"Research proves that the better access a community has to relevant and timely primary care services the better the general health of the community."

There are also plans to have other auxiliary services such as pathology collection and psychological services available at the centre in the future.