Protesters’ bid to save Bitterne Walk-In Centre (From Daily Echo)
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Campaigners fight to protect a Southampton centre which could be closed
9:40am Sunday 22nd August 2010 in News
Bitterne Walk-in Centre
PLACARD-WAVING protesters have taken to the streets to fight for the future of a city walk-in centre.
The Socialist Party of Southampton fear the Bitterne Walk-In Centre, pictured, could follow in the footsteps of Shirley and face the axe as health bosses consider its possible closure.
Campaigners believe the controversial move would be dangerous to the health of vulnerable and elderly residents, unable to travel across the city to get treatment.
But NHS Southampton City insists no decisions have been made and closure is just one of five possible options, which include a GP-led service or a weekend-only centre.
The trust’s board has agreed to a public consultation to consider all the alternatives, as part of their review into unscheduled care across the city.
They say a change is needed because there are too many services offering the same treatment, causing confusion.
Tim Cutter, branch secretary of the Southampton Socialist Party, told the Daily Echo: “The NHS should be investing and improving it, not axing it.
“We’ve never had a response like this to a campaign, with people so angry that they are queuing up to sign our petition.
“It’s a dangerous idea because older people, who cannot get across the city, will be more likely to not seek advice and a minor problem can quickly become more serious.
“Closing the centre will affect the city’s most vulnerable people, who cannot afford travel and don’t have a car. It has proved itself to be a vital service for the community and we will fight to save it.”
He added that health chiefs are invited to justify their position at a public meeting, hosted by the party, on August 26, at Gordon Hall, in Brook Road, Bitterne, starting at 7.30pm.
Dr Adrian Higgins, medical director for NHS Southampton City, said they were considering a number of options for the centre’s future and were listening to the views of residents.
He added: “We believe Bitterne Walk-in Centre could be one of the first services in the city to adopt a new approach to unscheduled care, focusing on joining up services in the community to prevent unnecessary trips to hospital.”
Dr Ros Tolcher, chief officer of Solent Healthcare, added: “There is a real opportunity here to retain a valued service for local people, and to ensure better use of the various services available during the daytime as well as at evenings and weekends.”
Comments(24)
Roy S
says...
11:41am Sun 22 Aug 10
The Echo does not state how many 'clients' the Shirley walk in centre saw, or even how many this Bitterne centre has seen. Withouy such statistics we have no point of arguement.
Personally I think they are a good idea, taking the difficulty out of getting urgent GP appointments.
Paramjit Bahia
says...
11:43am Sun 22 Aug 10
Walk-in Centre in Shirley was closed under New Labour and one in Bitterne is threatened under Con-Dem coalition.
If left unchallenged they will destroy socialist hero Bevan’s creation the NHS bit by bit. So it is nice to know that a real socialist party (and not the pseudo NuLabourites who in fact are only Tories under different name) is campaigning to save this important health service, which is used by all sections of the society.
Socialist Party deserves full support for this and other campaigns they try to run to save our services, while other three well financed main political parties are only interested in their personal greed based political ping-pong.
Family Man
says...
1:43pm Sun 22 Aug 10
less than helpful GPs receptionist. Taken all in all I believe the walk-in centres have provided an excellent service and largely suited to the needs of it's customers.
Cyber-Fug
says...
1:47pm Sun 22 Aug 10
Maybe its time we had a pay as you go system through insurance premiums, but keep free treatment for the under 16, disabled and retired.
Spot O'Bother
says...
2:07pm Sun 22 Aug 10
Bassett-Mikey
says...
2:07pm Sun 22 Aug 10
Like they say to Pompey - pay up and join the club, we all have to!
H0ckeyd
says...
2:17pm Sun 22 Aug 10
Besides, surely we should then call it the EUHS?......and then let the EU pay for it.
southy
says...
2:49pm Sun 22 Aug 10
joenice
says...
4:11pm Sun 22 Aug 10
Maine Lobster
says...
5:11pm Sun 22 Aug 10
joenice wrote:No? But there are millions to pay for external consultants and bonuses for NHS bosses while the public and staff are shafted. Acknowledge the double standards please.
We don't have the money for it, so that solves the problem. End of
freemantlegirl2
says...
5:14pm Sun 22 Aug 10
Paramjit Bahia wrote:As these centres were 'opened' by New Labour, I can't really see what your argument here is!!
Our NHS remains under attack from all three major political parties.
Walk-in Centre in Shirley was closed under New Labour and one in Bitterne is threatened under Con-Dem coalition.
If left unchallenged they will destroy socialist hero Bevan’s creation the NHS bit by bit. So it is nice to know that a real socialist party (and not the pseudo NuLabourites who in fact are only Tories under different name) is campaigning to save this important health service, which is used by all sections of the society.
Socialist Party deserves full support for this and other campaigns they try to run to save our services, while other three well financed main political parties are only interested in their personal greed based political ping-pong.
shirley was closed, on the sly, by the Health bods under the guise of 'we need the staff to person the swine flu helplines'.... of course it never opened again... and it's very much missed!
Family man, I have to laugh at the irony of your username and then your anti-child/family comments! do your children never get ill then? are you a doctor who can see the difference between a snivel and meningitis or when a child is really poorly? if so I should offer your services forthwith you could save us all a fortune!
Resients of Bitterne, don't let the NHS close your centre too!
freemantlegirl2
says...
5:26pm Sun 22 Aug 10
Bassett-Mikey wrote:what are you going on about??
Doctors surgeries require folk to register. People who 'register' tend to be legitimate folk who are 'in the system'. This allows for proper resource planning and without meaning to offend skiving, thieving, lazy, or any other members of the scrounging, benefit cheating community or other ner do wells, the resources of the surgeries would be enhanced if they knew how many folk they had to deal with. If you are not a pukka member of our countries society, why should us taxpayers and other law/rule abiding folk create buildings just to support you?
Like they say to Pompey - pay up and join the club, we all have to!
Walk-in centres compliment doctor's surgeries and deal with patients out of hours who ARE registered with a doctor..... I certainly don't want any foreign visitors to the city dying because we won't let them through the doors of our walk-in centres... and what on earth does benefit scrounging have to do with a walk-in centre??
Oh, andif you were in Spain (or the EU countries) on your jollies, I bet you'd want access to their health system through your E111 reciprocal health card? yep thought so!
Lordshill moaner
says...
5:46pm Sun 22 Aug 10
work-on
says...
6:39pm Sun 22 Aug 10
freemantlegirl2
says...
6:46pm Sun 22 Aug 10
Lordshill moaner wrote:Hear hear.... !
2 years ago i had a hip replacement and got an infection in the wound and it needed dressing every day my GP's surgery could not fit me in at all so had to make daily appointments at the walk in centre. What would happen today no care and mabybe a very lengthy hospital stay for something quite minor KEEP THEM OPEN THEY ARE VERY IMPORTANT AND NEEDED
10 Minute Man
says...
6:59pm Sun 22 Aug 10
Unfortunately for the government, the GPs contract has them stitched up being able to demand additional monies for all kinds of things, and late or weekend opening will just be another hole through which money is syphoned.
The Edge of Reason
says...
7:05pm Sun 22 Aug 10
My question to NHS Hampshire is this.
What price do you put on someone's life?
Condor Man
says...
7:53pm Sun 22 Aug 10
sass
says...
9:49pm Sun 22 Aug 10
freemantlegirl2 wrote:Listen, listen. It's here, here!
Lordshill moaner wrote: 2 years ago i had a hip replacement and got an infection in the wound and it needed dressing every day my GP's surgery could not fit me in at all so had to make daily appointments at the walk in centre. What would happen today no care and mabybe a very lengthy hospital stay for something quite minor KEEP THEM OPEN THEY ARE VERY IMPORTANT AND NEEDEDHear hear.... !
Duncan Disorderly
says...
3:18am Mon 23 Aug 10
sass wrote:I don't understand that joke
freemantlegirl2 wrote:Listen, listen. It's here, here!Lordshill moaner wrote: 2 years ago i had a hip replacement and got an infection in the wound and it needed dressing every day my GP's surgery could not fit me in at all so had to make daily appointments at the walk in centre. What would happen today no care and mabybe a very lengthy hospital stay for something quite minor KEEP THEM OPEN THEY ARE VERY IMPORTANT AND NEEDEDHear hear.... !
stmarysmush
says...
6:22am Mon 23 Aug 10
Tommy News
says...
1:15pm Mon 23 Aug 10
Bassett-Mikey
says...
2:04pm Mon 23 Aug 10
freemantlegirl2 wrote:Accepted some registered patients go there and were always professionally treated by the staff (who were excellent!) but if you cared to speak to them, they would tell you that the reason you had to wait ages was because of the number of non-registered people who were using it becasue they had not registered - probably because they were of a compromised status. As for treatment abroad, I am responsible enough to take out insurance, rather than ponce on the local system. If you cannot afford to do that you should not travel.
Bassett-Mikey wrote: Doctors surgeries require folk to register. People who 'register' tend to be legitimate folk who are 'in the system'. This allows for proper resource planning and without meaning to offend skiving, thieving, lazy, or any other members of the scrounging, benefit cheating community or other ner do wells, the resources of the surgeries would be enhanced if they knew how many folk they had to deal with. If you are not a pukka member of our countries society, why should us taxpayers and other law/rule abiding folk create buildings just to support you? Like they say to Pompey - pay up and join the club, we all have to!what are you going on about?? Walk-in centres compliment doctor's surgeries and deal with patients out of hours who ARE registered with a doctor..... I certainly don't want any foreign visitors to the city dying because we won't let them through the doors of our walk-in centres... and what on earth does benefit scrounging have to do with a walk-in centre?? Oh, andif you were in Spain (or the EU countries) on your jollies, I bet you'd want access to their health system through your E111 reciprocal health card? yep thought so!
Duncan Disorderly says...
10:13am Sun 22 Aug 10