Riot police are preparing for a running battle with angry residents in the leafy west London suburb of Chiswick.
Patients at Chiswick Health Centre are angry at changes to the National Health service proposed by Health Secretary Andrew Lansley.
The proposals will mean individual doctors will decide who will get what drugs on NHS prescription.
A small crowd of women began gathering outside the Centre this morning and police were keeping an eye on the situation.
One of the protestors, Beverly Temple-Bint, said: "This is really very awful, you know. These changes mean that someone will get life-saving in drugs in one area, but someone in another won't.
"We are awfully angry. And we jolly well want to tell people.
"Would you like a cup of tea?"
A police spokesman said: "Things were looking pretty ugly for a time there - but it started to rain and the crowd went home.
"And the bus came and a few got on that.
"However, we won't be letting our guard down and shall be monitoring the siutation closely. Riot squads are on standby."
