Eight months after Premier Dr. Ewart Brown announced the closure of the Medical Clinic, the doors were finally closed yesterday. Here is a break down of the events that led to the closure.

November 3, 2006: Newly elected Premier Brown gives his first Throne speech where he announces the closure of the previously named “indigent clinic”. He explained it was because the patients are denied dignity having to go to a clinic because of their financial status.

February 7, 2007: The Royal Gazette publishes a Letter to the Editor where Dr. Catherine Wakely, a doctor at the Medical Clinic criticises the decision to close it>

February 8, 2007: Dr. Wakely was asked to relinquish her duties at the Medical Clinic by the Bermuda Hospitals Board amid claims her actions went against a confidentiality code.

February 9, 2007 Dr. Wakely tenders her resignation.

February 14, 2007: Former opposition leader Wayne Furbert, in a televised address, calls for Dr. Brown to reconsider the closure.

February 23, 2007: A petition is started to keep the clinic doors open by Jenny Brookes after she hears from patients of their concern about losing their health care.

February 26, 2007: In the House of Assembly, Premier Brown reiterates his reasoning for closing the clinic saying that its patients were denied dignity, and added that it had “the worst financial rationale that one could imagine”.

March 8, 2007: Fifty protestors march on Parliament over the closure. Premier Brown left an in-progress session to answer questions about doctors for the patients and when the clinic was to close.

April 11, 2007: A petition with 3,564 names on it was given to Acting Health Minister Phillip Perinchief after protesters walked from the flag pole on Front Street, Hamilton to the Cabinet building. He said consultation would continue.

May 23007<$>: The Ministry of Health mails a pamphlet to every resident on the Island explaining that clinic patients will be place on the Government’s Health Insurance Plan (HIP).

May 32007<$>: Six months after announcing the closure of the clinic, Dr. Stanley James, Attending Physician at the Medical Clinic, held a closed meeting for patients.

June 27, 2007: A second closed meeting for the 512 patients who regularly use the clinic was held. About 40 attended the closed meeting where Dr. James again tried to address concerns.

June 27, 2007: New Minister of Health Michael Scott announces that the clinic will remain open for an extra two weeks to give patients more time to line-up a doctor.

July 13, 2007: Medical Clinic closes its doors.