Sheffield's health set to worsen after squeeze on public health budgets

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 11th Oct 2006

Public Health budgets are being squeezed

Lib Dems in Sheffield have warned that Sheffield's local health statistics could get significantly worse due to a squeeze on local NHS public health budgets.

National figures were released yesterday, which show the local region has high obesity rates, a high number of smoking-related deaths and low life expectancy. However, local PCT's in Sheffield are squeezing budgets that fund preventative measures to combat things like obesity and smoking.

Lib Dems believe that the move away from preventative care is a short-term strategy that will lead to increased costs for the NHS in the future. They believe that if public health budgets are used to prop up budget gaps Sheffield will see health statistics become even worse.

Councillor Paul Scriven, Leader of the Sheffield Liberal Democrat Group, said: -

"If local public health budgets are allowed to prop up other budget gaps then Sheffield will see its health get significantly worse. Issues like obesity and smoking need preventative treatment, if our local NHS cannot deliver this then problems will just be stacked up for the future"

"The problem is that Government policy is forcing our local NHS to find a total of £135m in savings over the next few years. On one hand Labour are saying that they want these issues tackled, yet on the other hand they are forcing the local NHS to make cuts to these services"

"We urge local health services to keep investing in preventative measures in order to improve the health of local people"