'Cowboys playing with people's lives', says Suffolk nurse
A family nurse of ten years has accused Suffolk County Council of being "cowboys playing with people's lives" over controversial changes to children's services, amid confusion over whether staff jobs are safe.
Why it matters: Dozens of protesters gathered outside the council's offices in Ipswich as cabinet members prepare to vote on Tuesday on changes to the Healthy Child Programme, which provides services for children, young people and families.
The details: The proposals would commit the council to £5.1m of extra spending each year and include:
- Consolidating programmes such as the Family Nurse Partnership and Young Parents Pathway
- Moving school nursing to a more targeted model that would work during the school term
If approved, and subject to a staff consultation early next year, the new model would go live in July 2027.
What they're saying: Kairstie Gladwell, who has been a family nurse for a decade, said: "My worry for families not having the young parent pathway – what service will they have because a phone call and a leaflet is not going to cut it.
"They won't be able to build relationships, they won't have that person working alongside them, and there will be huge safeguarding concerns for them and their young children."
Melanie McAteer, a senior officer at the Royal College of Nursing, raised concerns about the remaining service's ability to cope with pressures during school holidays.
"Problems don't stop when the holidays begin," she said. "Those children still have disabilities, they still have special educational needs.
"Those services still need support during the school holiday – you need more nurses, not less."
Job fears: There has been significant backlash from service users and staff, particularly around initial suggestions that the community staff nurse role would be axed altogether. Although the council has since walked back those proposals, it was revealed on Wednesday that staff nurses were told their jobs were not safe despite the authority claiming it had saved the role.
João Santos
Asked on Wednesday whether all nurses would have a job, the council said staffing arrangements would only be worked through later.
The other side: The council says the changes are needed because the service's current model is no longer sustainable, with costs set to reach £18.6m by 2029.
Cllr June Mummery, the council's lead for public health, said on Monday that Suffolk was "near the bottom of the pecking order" for Government funding.
"That means Suffolk is being asked to deliver the same outcomes as other areas with less money," she said. "It means every decision is harder than it should be."
A council spokesperson said the proposals have already changed as a result of feedback from the initial consultation and urged residents to participate in its ongoing Family Hub consultation ahead of the December 20 deadline.
“We respect the right of staff, unions and residents to express their views,” they said.
“We recognise that people will hold different views on the proposals. That is exactly why these processes have included public consultation, detailed impact assessments and extensive engagement with families, staff and partners.”
Who else was there: This morning's protest was attended by several unions as well as MPs, councillors and other community representatives.
Jess Asato, the MP for Lowestoft, warned that costs would end up growing as families were pushed into crisis, and urged the council to "go back to the drawing board and think again."
"These are services for our most vulnerable families, and for children who need all the opportunity they can get," she said. "If we can help families before the crisis hits, we can keep families together and bring down the cost of care – we should be expanding those services, not cutting them."
Cllr Amanda Foley, a councillor at East Suffolk Council whose mother was a community nurse, said community nursing had been the frontline for tackling deprivation for decades.
"Children are not a cost-cutting exercise," she said. "There can't be cuts, [nurses] have got to be there and helping from day one."
The bottom line: With cabinet members due to vote on Tuesday, nurses, MPs and campaigners warn that cutting back children's services now could create bigger problems – and costs – for Suffolk's most vulnerable families later.
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