Dr. Stanley James, Attending Physician at the Medical Clinic, comforted patients yesterday telling them he would still be available after the clinic closes.

Announced in the Premier's Throne Speech in November, last year, the closure has sparked concern and questions from the clinic patients and campaigners.

In one last attempt to meet with patients and address their concerns the Bermuda Hospitals Board (BHB) held a meeting for clients only though Dr. James extended an invitation to The Royal Gazette through his legal consultant Julian Hall.

And yesterday as Dr. James tried to clarify the transfer process he told patients not to worry about the closure date on Friday saying it was only a target date.

"It's not like an iron door that is slamming shut. June 30 was just a target day. My commitment is to your care and there will be some leeway with the closure. If your doctors need to contact me they can."

In a pamphlet mailed out to every Bermudian resident last month, the Ministry of Health said clinic patients will have to go to the Department of Financial Assistance.

The office will asses their needs, put them on the Government's Health Insurance Plan (HIP) and will provide them with an amended indigent clinic card so they will be able to visit their doctors for only a $5 co-pay.

And yesterday, the last meeting for all patients, which started late, but lasted for 45 minutes, was attended by 27 patients or family members as well as two nursing home staff members.

After a brief slideshow giving a quick breakdown on how a physician is provided, what they need to know, and how they will get their medication following the closure, Dr. James opened the floor for questions and answers.

Hands shot in the air as issues raised involved what the patients would do if they received supplies at the clinic to what would happen to the dentist services that patients were provided.

Dr. James said: "People will have to go be means tested and from there they will be directed by the Department of Financial Assistance to how to attain their supplies.

"The dental services were always provided pro bono and the dental group, as far as I understand, has decided to stop and that is separate from the clinic closure."

Dr. James also revealed that clinic patients with extensive health concerns on HIP will be able to see their doctors eight times a year, rather than the four for regular HIP patients and each will have two visits a year for specialists, with the possibility of four visits for those patients with considerable health concerns.

But he assured patients, they would still be able to visit the emergency room if they had serious problems with their teeth and also revealed that medications will continue to be provided for free from the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital.

He added: "We will run through the list of 512 patients and contact them because we need to make sure everyone is contacted before the closure."