Warning on public health cuts in Surrey

Figures released by the national department of health show the Conservative national government is planning to cut £2.2m from the public health budget across Surrey. This will have a direct impact on efforts to improve health at local level because the public health budget relieves pressure on English NHS hospitals and clinics by helping people to solve their own health problems before they become serious. For example, the budget helps finance work to promote exercise, give up smoking and tackle drug addiction. Cllr Hazel Watson, Surrey’s Leader of the Liberal Democrats opposition, said: “These planned cuts of £2.2m to Surrey’s public health budget are the wrong cuts, made in the wrong way.  The public health budget is an important support system for our NHS and these planned cuts represent a false economy which will only end up costing the government and the NHS more than is saved.