THE leader of Southampton City Council has written to the Secretary of State for Health about his concerns over the closure of the Bitterne Walk-In Centre.

Simon Letts says he has outlined his "reservations" to Jeremy Hunt about the closure of the service, which will shut its doors for the last time tomorrow (Sat, Oct 31).

The walk-in service, run from Bitterne Health Centre which will remain open, had been threatened before but reprieved.

However earlier this year the city Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) outlined its plans to close the service, saying funding needed to be prioritised elsewhere and especially on community nursing services.

Those plans were eventually approved and it will now close tomorrow after its normal opening hours.

Southampton Itchen MP Royston Smith wrote to Labour leader Cllr Letts after being contacted by a constituent.

And Cllr Letts has now contacted Mr Hunt about the closure, saying: "I have written privately to the Secretary of State to express my reservations about the process".

Some campaigners have criticised the council for not referring the matter to Mr Hunt earlier, but Cllr Letts added: "There is no secret council power.

"This is entirely a national decision and I have expressed my reservation".

Nick Chaffey, from the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition, has criticised the Health and Overview Scrutiny Panel, a committee that analyses health decisions in the city, about it voting to accept the decision at a meeting earlier this year.

The panel does have the power to formally refer the decision to Mr Hunt but it decided not to at a heated meeting last month.

He added: "We are looking at the question of taking legal action against the council for not carrying out their statutory duty.

"The responsibility of the panel is to represent the view of the communities and patients."

A city council spokesman said: "The council’s procedures were followed fully.

"Our formal role, post CCG decision, is limited to scrutiny of the decision and referral to the Secretary of State if we feel there is merit on the facts."

Mr Smith said: "I am very disappointed to see the walk-in service close."

"The decision was made by the CCG despite the vast majority of residents wanting it to remain.

"However the decision to commission services is theirs and theirs alone. We must now ensure we secure seven-day access to GP surgeries as quickly and efficiently as possible."

In the run-up to the closure the CCG has announced alternatives to the walk-in service, including calling the NHS 111 free helpline and going to local pharmacies.

Other alternatives include the Minor Injuries Unit at the Royal South Hants Hospital and local GP surgeries.