A CAMPAIGN has been launched to save a walk-in health centre in Southampton – for the second time.

Many people thought the threat to Bitterne Walk In Centre was had been lifted last year.

But the reprieve was only temporary after the Daily Echo revealed that plans for complete closure are back on the agenda.

The city’s Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) says the plan has resurfaced as it needs to prioritise spending elsewhere.

About 40 people attended a public meeting on Saturday.

It heard that closure would rob residents on the eastern side of the city of easy access to NHS services and increase pressure on the accident and emergency department at Southampton General Hospital and the minor injuries unit at the Royal South Hants.

Sue Atkins, of Weston Lane, Weston, said: “It is our NHS, not their NHS. The CCG are our servants, not our masters. Things always need reviewing but the Government says it is putting an extra £8billion into the NHS. Where is that money going?”

Meeting organiser Declan Clune, of the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition, said: “A lot of people think this is a done deal. That is not the case. The CCG have said they will listen. We hope to create momentum for people to come and join us to get their voices heard.”

Kevin Hayes, of the Socialist Party, urged people to fight the closure: “At the end of the day if you do nothing, you will get nothing. We have to do something.”

A demonstration will be held at the walk-in centre on Saturday, July 11 at 11am,. It will assemble in Bitterne Precinct by the Red Lion.

No doctors, city councillors nor Southampton Itchen MP Royston Smith were at the meeting at Bitterne United Reformed Church.

Just under 700 signatures have been gathered for are on a petition; consultation on the proposed closure runs to September 4.

There will be several public meetings organised by the CCG, including on July 9 from 6.30 to 8pm at St Coleman’s Catholic Church Hall, Bitterne Road East.

Another meeting will be held from 6.30 to 8pm on July 28 at Central Hall, St Mary’s.

Residents can take part in the consultation online at southamptoncityccg.nhs.uk/consultations.

Mr Clune said there were attacks on public services on the eastern side of the city including the Cobbett Road library and Bitterne Police Station, scheduled to close in the next two years.