IT is a sign of how little trust residents and indeed some politicians have in those who run our health services, that few appear to believe there is any chance that the Bitterne Walk-In Centre earmarked for a “temporary” closure will ever open again.

As this paper reports today, health officials claim that the closure is only to last for six months while they explore other methods of delivering a service in the region through clinics and GP surgeries.

The move will not save any money, they admit, but will give medical chiefs the chance to monitor if such a change in service will assist more people in the long run.

The reaction from residents and politicians has been swift in condemning the action. The permanent closure of the centre is now inevitable, they say.

Away from the actual centre itself, the concern must be why those who lead our medical services find it so difficult to persuade both the public and politicians of their best intentions.

Why does it seem the default reaction to any propsals is one of suspicion?

Does the long-running debate over adding fluoride to Southampton’s water supplies, although completely unrelated to this current issue, play into this atmosphere of distrust?

Those are questions the medical profession must ask itself, we would contend.