How can £1.3 million be cut from Rotherham's health budget?

RESIDENTS are being urged to tell council bosses how they think its dwindling public health services grant should be spent.

The Government has cut £1.3 million from Rotherham’s public health grant this year (2016/17) and there will be further cuts to the grant every year until 2020. 

As a result Rotherham Borough Council has to slash its spending on its 21 public health services.

The council wants to hear from residents about what they think its health priorities should be and its online public consultation closes on September 15. 

Cllr David Roche, cabinet member for adult social care and health said: “The potential changes to the way that public health services will be delivered in the future are likely to affect all of us in some way – either directly or because a family or friend is a service user. 

“Therefore everyone should take this opportunity to tell us what you think.

“As with other councils, Rotherham receives a specific public health grant from the Government which has unfortunately been cut, so we now need to think about how we can spend less but still deliver the right services to Rotherham residents.

“No decisions have been made yet so now is the time for you to tell us what matters the most to you. 

“We will have to make some tough decisions following the outcome of the consultation and cannot guarantee that services will continue to be delivered in the same way – but what we can guarantee is that you have the opportunity to help shape our future approach if you complete the survey before September 15.”

To complete the survey visit www.rotherham.gov.uk/consultations. 

For residents who do not have access to the internet the council has recommended visiting a local library and asking staff to help.

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