Bitterne walk-in centre in Southampton faces closure. The health centre is the only facility in the east of the city for urgent care and minor injuries. Poorer residents often cannot afford to travel for care.

"The whole east of the city would vote to keep the walk-in open" said one campaigner.

A Southampton Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) meeting on 25 October voted unanimously to oppose the closure. Over 40 attended, urged on by a striking health worker to fight to save the NHS.

TUSC campaigners, including the Socialist Party, reminded the meeting we have a chance to vote in 2015 for those who fought to keep the centre open. The meeting agreed to lobby the Labour dominated Health Oversight and Scrutiny Panel...

Nick Chaffey

...Around 50 protesters crowded into the Health Oversight and Scrutiny Panel on 30 October.

The panel recommended the plan be halted until there was meaningful consultation. Solent NHS Trust, responsible for the cut, agreed to abide by this decision.

It was also agreed this could not reasonably take place until after the general election - because the debate would be "too politicised"!

God forbid that anyone should see saving services for the poorest and most vulnerable as "political". Councillors backed down in the face of overwhelming public anger, but our victory is only for now.

TUSC led this campaign, as it did last time the walk-in was threatened. We will be standing for election in May to take the fight to the council.

In the words of one Health Watch campaigner, "You are trying to force people to fit into your system. It should be the other way round. We need a system that fits the needs of the people."

Jean Walker

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