Few probably paid much attention when Premier Dr. Ewart Brown announced his plans to close the Medical Clinic in his Throne Speech last November.

But the issue dragged on for eight months and provided one of his biggest battles during his Premiership.

Dr. Brown said patients were denied dignity having to go to a clinic because of their financial status.

But doctors, patients and protesters united in the clinic's support. It cost Catherine Wakely, a doctor at the Medical Clinic, her job when she wrote a letter criticising the decision to close.

Protesters marched on Parliament in the Spring and a petition gathered 3,500 signatures but in July the Medical Clinic closed its doors for the last time.

For critic Stuart Hayward, Dr. Brown's belligerence in bulldozing through his views doesn't bode well for any effort to shape a tranquil culture.

"The clinic closure is a classic example — we have no way of tracking the people who used to attend," he said.

"The people who were supposedly going to benefit from the decision were not asked if it was a good step for them. The people advocating were castigated."

For Mr. Hayward the historical grievances against the former indigent clinic might have masked the reality of what it had become in Dr. Brown's eyes.

"He was quoted saying when he came back that he had scores to settle and many of the approaches, for example, to the clinic issue do reflect an aspect of him that is stuck in some rut of bad treatment that has to be redressed, not just addressed," he said.

"Retribution is an element which seems to be very high in his way of doing things.

"A clientele that were supposedly the benefactors of the decision were not involved, the rationale evolved after the decision was made and it's questionable whether the outcome met the objectives — whether it is cheaper or even fits the rationale that later evolved.

"And the lasting effect is rancour."

There has been controversy in other areas of health. Nelson Bascome was forced to resign as Health Minister to face court charges and was replaced by Michael Scott who had been dropped from Cabinet months earlier.

And Dr. Brown's private bid to set up a private stem cell clinic has sparked concern from doctors.

The Premier and his wife Wanda are teaming up with California-based Stemedica to set up the Brown-Darrell Clinic in Winterhaven, Smith's, with proposals to treat one or two "no option" patients every week. It is scheduled to open early next year.

But, in the public realm, Dr. Brown supporter Arthur Hodgson said the Premier was getting to grips with health issues.

"It looks like he wants to decentralise our health system — that's a first class move," Mr. Hodgson said.

The Premier has also promised plans to ensure pensioners don't have to fear they won't be able to pay for health once they stop working. But the details have yet to emerge.