The move follows a letter, dated January 5, written by Dr McKinnon on behalf of three other staff, including part-time GP Margaret Blanshard and a receptionist and nurse.
The letter was circulated to the centre's 500 patients, advising them that medical staff might not continue working, citing "differences in vision with the practice's owner".
The O'Connell's Mall centre is now closed and Dr McKinnon's name has been removed from a sign in the window.
When emailed yesterday by the Otago Daily Times, Dr McKinnon replied that he had been advised by his lawyers not to comment.
Dr Blanshard could not be contacted.
Patients were being referred to independent GP Michael Stevens, the Wakatipu Medical Centre and the three Queenstown Medical Centres (QMC).
QMC spokesman Dr Simon Davies would not comment on the referral, and said he would not "share speculation" on the situation because it was still "early days".
Mr Roberts yesterday said he had lodged a complaint with the Medical Council of New Zealand about what he said was a breach of patient privacy.
He alleges Dr McKinnon has the practice client list.
Mr Roberts said he was unable to pay Dr McKinnon's fortnightly wages until he returned from holiday last Wednesday and had told Dr McKinnon this before he left on a fishing trip to the Bay of Islands on December 22.
Mr Roberts said Dr McKinnon then wrote him a letter, which, in part, said "he's not working tomorrow unless I pay him".
"So I said 'close the door if that's your attitude'."
"We're looking as hard as we can to get another doctor to be open as soon as we can," Mr Roberts said.
Have you been affected by the Midtown Medical Centre closure? Contact the Otago Daily Times' Queenstown office: phone (03) 442-6157 or email matt.stewart@odt.co.nz
