RESIDENTS have urged health bosses to do the right thing and save an under-threat walk-in centre from closure.

The public meeting was organised by Southampton Trade Unionists and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) and saw more than 20 people gather at Bitterne United Reformed Church.

However there were notable absentees as neither Itchen conservative candidate Royston Smith nor Itchen Labour candidate Rowenna Davis, who are both campaigning to stop the planned closure, turned up.

As reported by the Daily Echo, Southampton Clinical Commissioning Group and Solent NHS Trust are planning to shut Bitterne Walk-In Centre as part of a six-month pilot study to see if its services can be delivered through GP practices and community care.

The plan has caused outrage among residents who are furious that they could be forced to travel across the city for out-of-hours medical help.

More than 800 people have signed a petition against the closure, launched by prospective Labour MP Rowenna Davis while city Tory leader, Cllr Royston Smith, has drawn up a cost-saving plan which he says could protect the future of the service by running it from a pharmacy over the road.

Daily Echo:

Leading Saturday's meeting was TUSC member, Declan Clune, who called on people to join forces and fight the closure and further cuts to the NHS.

He criticised the absence of Rowenna Davis, Royston Smith and members of the Southampton Clinical Commissioning Group.

He said: “We are calling for the Health Centre to be saved at all costs and returned to its proper function before the cuts.”

“I think it is shameful to be honest that they are not here, people have come in to speak to them to ask questions and they are not here to answer them.”

Residents at the meeting all spoke of their fondness for the centre, including Mary Carnegie from Sholing, who said: “The closure will mean a lot of people will lose the chance be able to go somewhere out of hours and a lot of older people will not want to go to the Royal South Hants.

“Losing the Bitterne Walk-In Centre would be a huge loss to Southampton.”

Another person who showed her support at the meeting was Jill Starks, 75, from Bitterne, who was thankful to staff at the centre for discovering her medical problems on two occasions.

She said: “I think the centre is vital - especially for older people who do not drive.”

When contacted by the Daily Echo, Cllr Smith accused the TUSC of turning the future of Bitterne Walk-in Centre into a political row.

He said: “I have been liaising with the CCG, the Health and Well Being Board, The Health Overview and Scrutiny Panel and my constituents.

“TUSC are looking to make political capital out of something which I feel is not a political issue.

“I am genuinely trying to persuade the CCG to see sense.

Rowenna Davis did not respond to our enquiry about why she didn't attend the meeting.

There will be a Special Meeting held by the Health Overview and Scrutiny Panel at Southampton City Council to discuss Bitterne Walk-In Centre on Thursday (oct 30), it will take place at Southampton Civic Centre.