Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Trust runs a detox unit for people with alcohol and drug dependency at Southmead hospital. They want to close this unit by 31st of March 2025, mainly claiming that the unit is “running at a loss” as the reason for its closure. There is no similar NHS unit available in Bristol and we all know that alcohol and drug dependency is an increasing problem. The closure of the unit at Southmead happens on the background of a large scale outsourcing attack at Wiltshire and Great Western Hospital Trust, where management wants to push 2,000 NHS workers into the private sector.

We have to defend our conditions as workers and working class patients. The economic and social crisis pushes more people into poverty and drug abuse. At the same time the health care for these people is undermined by management austerity measures. We all know that as a result more people will just be stranded in emergency departments, where there is no adequate care for them either. Some of them might undergo a withdrawal on wards, but they will most likely be sent back out without much support.

We have seen many joint workers and patient actions that successfully prevented the closure of health services. From mental health units in Toulouse, to maternity wards in Munich to trauma centres in Chicago and dental practices in Bristol. More than 2,500 people signed a petition against the closure of the Acer Units within a couple of days, but we need to take action. If we fight together, we can win.

If you feel similarly, get in touch!

vitalsignsmag@proton.me