Proposals to cut a council’s nursing staff have been described by a healthcare worker as ‘absolutely disastrous’.
Suffolk County Council is consulting on changes to the way it supports children, young people and families due to rising demand and costs outpacing available funding and making the current model unsustainable.
The proposals include axing community staff nurses, who support children and families through home visits as part of the health visiting service.
Cuts to nursing staff could be disastrous. Picture: iStock
According to a council health visitor, who has worked in the role for more than a decade, nurses are ‘the backbone of the service’.
“If we didn’t have the staff nurses, I don’t know how we would be able to cope – they’re invaluable to the service,” they said.
“[If changes go ahead] families will not get the best care, it will all be compromised, and I think safeguarding will shoot up.”
Through the service, families are entitled to at least five health reviews during and after pregnancy, designed to monitor a child’s health and development, support parents, and identify concerns early.
Staff nurses not only help carry out the mandatory health reviews, but also provide extra ongoing support where needed, including to families with pre-term babies, and those whose children have special educational needs.
The council’s health visitor said as many as 49 such nursing roles could be facing the axe.
They said staff had been left in ‘absolute disbelief’ and feeling undervalued as a ‘surplus to requirements’.
Suffolk County Council said a final decision had not yet been made. Picture: Suzanne Day
In an email to staff, the council acknowledged the changes ‘may feel difficult, uncertain or frustrating’ but stressed no decision had been made.
When asked about job losses, the authority repeated it had not made a final decision, with any workforce implications subject to formal consultation with affected staff.
As part of the changes, the council said it would increase the number of health visitors, though it is unclear how many new jobs would be created.
It also promised wider improvements to services for children and families in Suffolk.
Cllr Paul Sutton, the council’s deputy lead for public health, said the authority needed to do the best with the resources it had.
“That means helping children and families earlier, and making sure support is there for those who need it most,” he said.
The consultation runs until September 18 and can be found on the council’s website, with final proposals expected in the autumn.