The health clinic servicing the 600 residents of the Utopia Homelands, 250 kilometres north-east of Alice Springs, has been placed under special administration after threats of violence against staff and concerns about management.

Key points: The closure has surprised both residents and members of the health clinic's board

The closure has surprised both residents and members of the health clinic's board The Utopia Homelands are 250 kilometres north-east of Alice Springs

The Utopia Homelands are 250 kilometres north-east of Alice Springs Registrar Selwyn Button said it had placed the health service under administration after threats against staff

The move comes after the Urapuntja Health Service closed its doors last Thursday, taking residents by surprise.

Members of the board that runs the clinic said they too were given no warning that the clinic would be closed.

"Doctors and nurses, they just left, and community didn't know, no-one called to say 'see ya'. They left, they just left," said the acting chair of the health service, Joyce Jones.

Urapuntja Health Service board chairwoman Joyce Jones said she only found out that clinic had closed by word of mouth. ( ABC News: Samantha Jonscher )

On Tuesday, the Office of the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations released a notice saying the health service had been placed under special administration.

Registrar Selwyn Button said his office had not issued a "show cause" notice to the health service before placing it under administration because threats against staff put the clinic's ability to provide essential health services at risk.

Clinic staff put up two signs before they evacuated, instructing patients to contact 000. ( ABC News: Samantha Jonscher )

"Staff safety was certainly at risk as there were threats of violence towards staff in the community," Mr Button said.

The nearest clinic to the Urapuntja Health Service is in the Aboriginal community of Ampilatwatja, 70 kilometres away on an unsealed road.

The Urapuntja Health Service is an Aboriginal community-controlled health service run by the Urapuntja Health Service board.

The peak body for Aboriginal community-controlled health services in the NT — AMSANT - said it had been assured the clinic would reopen on Wednesday.

The only health clinic in the Utopia Homelands region has suddenly closed. ( ABC News: Samantha Jonscher )

Registrar Selwyn Button said the clinic would be operating with limited services.

Health Minster Natasha Fyles said the Alice Springs Hospital would work with the Royal Flying Doctor Service and St John Ambulance to respond while the clinic was closed.

Cairns-based lawyers Thomas Cameron and Leah Cameron from Marrawah Law Pty have been appointed as joint special administrators of the service from January 28 to May 8, 2020.

The CEO of the clinic has been contacted for comment.