Delay in public health funding announcement

RIO was among a series of council-funded health projects and facilities eagerly awaiting a decision over its future in January.

But Dr Matt Capehorn (pictured), clinical manager at the centre, said he had received a letter from Terri Roche, Rotherham Borough Council’s director of public health, on Monday, which said they will now be told the decision in March.

Dr Capehorn said: “The original plan was for the council’s Cabinet to make a decision at its December meeting and announce their decisions in January.

“Now they are not going to let anyone know the results until March but any changes will still take effect from July.

“It gives people just three months to either shut down and sort out redundancies or restructure their whole system and facility.”

The Advertiser is calling for RIO to be saved from threatened closure by ensuring it is given the necessary funding as part of our Fighting Fit campaign.

Dr Capehorn said the delay and ongoing uncertainty made it difficult to plan diet and exercise routines for its prospective clients.

He said: “For us specifically, it means that anyone who is starting a six-month programme might not get the full six months.

“We are going to have to start telling people that we don’t know if we will be able to finish their programmes and that might put people off.”

Dr Capehorn said the possibilities for the Doncaster Gate facility include terminating its weight management contracts from July, reducing funding by up to 40 per cent or no change at all.

Ms Roche said the decision would be announced in March because “of the wider financial challenges faced by Rotherham Council, and the need for the council to make all the financial decisions at the same time”.

She added: “Providers of public health services were originally advised that we would be in a position to inform them of any decisions on their future funding in January 2017. This will now take place in March 2017 .

“Only the full council can approve the budget and any decisions made to the public health budget will need to be in the context of the overall budget, which - as with most councils - is set in late February or March. The decision has therefore been postponed until then.

“The notice period still remains. It is recognised that this will make the period of finalising any contractual changes shorter, but should still be sufficient for providers to manage any required changes for both staff and patients. 

“All the providers to whom this applies have been sent a revised letter outlining the revised timescales and the reasons they are necessary.”