Friday marks the closure of the Medical Clinic and Government admits not all of the patients have been transferred to doctors. The impending closure was announced in the Premier’s Throne Speech in November, last year and the Ministry of Health along with the Bermuda Hospitals Board (BHB) have been co-ordinating the transfer of patients.

In one last attempt to speak to patients the BHB announced a final closed meeting for tomorrow at 3.30 p.m. in the first floor conference room of the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital.

However, last week Permanent Secretary of Health Warren Jones conceded there was no way all patients will be transferred before the clinic doors close on Friday. “We recognise that some of the clients will not have been into the clinic before it ceases to provide clinical services,” he said.

“Although it will no longer provide clinical services, there will be assistance available after June 30 for those patients to transfer to a physician. We encourage those who have not, to go to the clinic to receive assistance to transfer to a physician.”

Mr. Jones further stated that if patients or participating physicians have questions they can contact the Chief Medical officer Dr. John Cann, the director of clinical services at BHB Kathy Lewis or himself at the Ministry of Health.

The clinic, which will close on Friday, has been at the centre of controversy after Premier Ewart Brown announced its termination in the Throne Speech last November. In his speech, the Premier explained the clinic must be closed because of the assault on the patients dignity having to go to one clinic due to their financial situation.

However, those opposed to the plan and some clinic patients demanded answers by collecting thousands of signatures and organising two protest marches.

At the end of May, the Ministry of Health mailed a pamphlet detailing the transition plan for the Medical Clinic patients to every resident on the Island. And on June 15, the newly appointed Minister of Health, Michael Scott read out the names of 23 doctors who will be available to patients of the closing clinic.

However, Jenny Brookes, who campaigned against the closure, said months after the announcement and days before the clinic closes, there remained a lot of confusion.

“The pamphlet that many citizens received in the mail outlining the so-called plan of the clinics closure may have put to rest some concerns the general public had about the clinic,” she said. “Think about the group of people this closure will affect. The reality is that a large percentage of the clinic patients do not have a fixed abode or mailing address so they did not receive the pamphlet and it was not available in the clinic for the patients to read.”

And Ms. Brookes contends there are questions still for patients who need the services of the clinic such as medical supplies like dressings.

A daughter of a medical clinic patient contacted The Royal Gazette along these lines, saying she was unsure how she will be able to afford the dressings, which will cost her $250 to $300 a month. She said: “I tried to buy the supplies for my mother on my own for a while, but I just can’t afford it. She doesn’t see a doctor there because she needs someone to visit her at home.

“I’ve asked the people at the medical clinic but none of them know what to tell me.”

In response to her questions, Mr. Jones said: “Without dealing with the specific case you have raised, it is important to note that where individuals meet the criteria, and they have gone through the process that has been established, they will get assistance. Individuals such as the one you highlight should ensure that they have been to the clinic to be transferred. The clinic is aware of the services they require and can assist to address those matters.”

The meeting for clinic patients tomorrow is closed to the public and the BHB has encouraged all patients with questions to attend.