Weight loss service could be axed in council cuts

Services which aim to help people lose weight could be dropped as a council grapples with a £440,000 shortfall in public health funding.

Peterborough City Council said its government grant had increased since last year but was "simply not enough" to fund all its work, including in the area of changing people's behaviour to improve their health.

It has begun a consultation and said proposed savings could be made by cutting health trainers and adult weight loss management projects.

Shabina Qayyum, cabinet member for public health and adult social care, said it was looking at cutting services where there was "choice over providing, where the impact is lowest, and where there are alternatives offered by the NHS".

Instead, the focus would be shifted to activities aimed at preventing people becoming overweight, including advice around diet and exercise.

People would still be able to receive weight management support from the NHS, while health checks - provided by GP practices - would be reduced at community settings.

Services around smoking cessation and children's weight management would continue to be funded, the council said.

The consultation does not include mandatory services, including in the areas of substance misuse, health visitors and sexual health.

"Previous directors of public health have written to the government about the severe underfunding of public health services in Peterborough and the impact this is having on our ability to address health inequalities," added Qayyum, a Labour councillor.

"The government is listening and in January announced an uplift in the region of £400,000 in our public health grant for the current financial year.

"However, with the demands from our growing population, and now that we have a dedicated Peterborough public health service following the conclusion of the shared service with Cambridgeshire County Council, this simply isn't enough to continue providing all the services we have been."

The consultation closes at midnight on 25 June, with comments to be considered before a recommendation is made to cabinet in July.

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