Health of children in Walsall 'will be hit by cuts'
A cut in public health funding will impact on the lives of residents in Walsall, councillors have claimed.
Government cash is set to be reduced by 6.2 per cent for councils, a drop of more than £1 million next year.
Work undertaken using public health budgets includes encouraging people to exercise more, give up smoking, drink less, come off drugs and drink, and avoid sexually transmitted diseases.
The current allocation for Walsall is £15.827m but is now faces being scaled back by the Government.
Members of the council's health and well-being board have spoken of their disappointment.
Councillor Ian Robertson, shadow cabinet member for health, said: "This means that Walsall will receive the lowest grant of all our neighbours despite needing in reality an extra £6m to address the urgent needs especially of very young children in Walsall.
"This vicious loss of a fair allocation will have a serious impact on health and life chances of especially children in Walsall.
"We owe a responsibility especially to the future health and well being of our children here in Walsall to protest most strongly at this attack on public health provision."
Councillor Ian Shires said the public health budget pays to help improve people's health so there is less pressure on the NHS.
"This cut will mean that local residents are less likely to make good decisions on their health, and when they do need help it is less likely to be there for them," he said.
"Liberal Democrats say these cuts are wrong, made in the wrong way and they will end up costing the Government and the NHS more than is saved."
A report was prepared by Dr Barbara Watt, director of public health, to councillors on the board.
It says: "Its preferred option is to apply a standard flat rate percentage reduction of 6.2 per cent across all local authorities.
"This would equate to a £1.114m reduction in the 2015/16 public health allocation for Walsall.
"It is anticipated that the proposed cuts will have a negative impact on the ability of Walsall Council to deliver on public health priorities in Walsall.
"Public health services in Walsall have invested in innovative and exciting transformation projects in collaboration with partners across the council."
Public health duties include cancer screening programmes, immunisation, and prevention of healthcare associated infections.
