Reductions to Obesity funding (S09)

Cuts

Portfolio: System.Linq.Enumerable+WhereSelectArrayIterator`2[System.String,System.String]

Futures Fund

This cut may not get implemented in full because there are proposals to include the service within the futures fund. Please visit the futures fund proposal to find out more.

Preventing & reducing obesity adults & children No direct intervention or prevention programmes for adults or children in Darlington. This will mean that: there will no longer be:-

Healthy Darlington Hub, based in the Dolphin Centre and wider community.
Move More Team
School Sports Partnership Programme, This will have a direct effect on the provision of opportunities for people to change their lifestyles to improve their health, provision of opportunities to engage in an active and sporting lifestyle, and facilitating access into mainstream sports clubs and leisure activities at Eastbourne Sports Complex and the Dolphin Centre. In addition this will significantly affect partnership work with Sport England in bringing in external funding to Darlington to support sport and physical activity. This has totalled £1.22M between Sept 2012-Sept 2015. A recent award from the Football Foundation of £420,000 would be at risk as there is a Community Football Development Programme to be delivered as part of that agreement, which would be carried out by the Sports Development Team, which is part of Healthy Darlington. Furthermore this grant will underpin the revenue model for Eastbourne Sports Complex moving forward. In addition, a number of the posts are externally funded from Sport England and without the management resource to support the programme, funding would have to be returned. There will be a direct impact of £86,560 on the Dolphin Centre budget as the Healthy Darlington budget covers a number of the operating costs for the Healthy Hub and both direct and indirect staffing costs associated with the Dolphin Centre.

Individuals and families will be signposted to resources provided by other agencies including voluntary and private sector organisations, web based information, telephone support or self-help groups.

The mandatory National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP) will continue. In line with national guidance the height & weight of all reception and year six pupils in school in Darlington will be measured, recorded and reported to the national surveillance system. Parents/carers will be notified of the outcome of the measurement and as to whether the child is categorised as underweight, healthy weight, overweight or obese however the removal of services means no intervention programmes means children identified as overweight or obese will not have access to any public health commissioned support.

There would be no capacity to undertake local campaigns and limited capacity to support national or regional campaigns in Darlington. Obesity specific services will only be available for adults who are morbidly obese and the only option will be direct referral by the GP to NHS Clinical Services. Funding to Healthy Darlington £509,172.

Link: S9 - Reductions to Obesity funding

Related FAQs

What will be the impact on voluntary organisations such as Citizen’s Advice, Age UK, GADD? What happens if they close?

We fully support the work of our voluntary sector partners and hope to continue to work with them in the future. However, the financial situation is such that the Council is not able to continue funding these organisations at current levels. The likely impact of the budget proposals on these organisations is currently being identified, following discussions with the organisations most affected. We hope that they are able to continue their work by looking at where they can make further cost and efficiency savings, but we appreciate that in some cases this may not be possible and it will therefore mean a reduction in the support they can offer to the residents of Darlington. It could lead to the closure of organisations if they are unable to make the necessary changes for them to be sustainable, which will be very regrettable. We want to avoid this happening and we will support organisations making grant applications where we can. We will also be undertaking work to understand the impact of any reductions in service on individuals accessing them.

Your Say

8 comment(s)

Comment
Cut S09 (Obesity Management) The proposal to cut or reduce the Obesity funding (SO9)and as a consequence reduce or cut the schools sports partnership programme. The growing demand on school budgets and the growing issues around health and young people are very real. In particular the engagement in children in sports that extends beyond the curriculum is an essential element of changing their lifestyles. Without the support from the local authority funded through the partnership these very real opportunities will be lost. It is a growing battle to teach and educate children to make effective life choices, without these opportunities these choices are no longer available. I would like to strongly encourage the decision makers to resist the suggestion of cutting the budget to the schools partnership programme.
Cut S09 (Obesity Management) Cut W02 (Eastbourne Sports Complex Break Even) Cut W06 (Dolphin Centre) I am a carer for a lady with MS. I have over the past few months be taking this lady to Eastbourne Sports Centre on a Wednesday, where she meets with the MS Group and does excercises with the staff. She thoroughly enjoys this and as a result has enrolled in the gym at the Dolphin Centre and has one to one with [...] on a Tuesday and every other Friday. This again she enjoys. Taking her to both these places has also encouraged myself and my daughter to join the gym. [...] and the other staff, [...] just to name another couple, really help to keep the spirits up of, not only the MS Group but myself as a carer and gym goer. As it has come to my attention that these staff are to be made redundant I felt the need to let you know of my disappointment. They are a great help both physically and mentally to all who come into contact with them. For myself and my daughter, we both need to lose some weight and we were not made to feel in any way inadequate because of our weight, but encouraged. These people would be a great loss to the facilities that you have at the Dolphin Centre and I hope enough people sing their praises to get this decision reversed.
Cut S09 (Obesity Management) Cancer research feedback regarding the healthy hub Documents Cancer research feedback
Cut S09 (Obesity Management) Last year in March I began a journey which I did not feel I could complete without help. I have arthritis and poor mobility was very over weight, but whilst I had reduced my food intake I was having trouble loosing weigh and needed advice. My first step was to my GP to ask for an appointment with the practice dietician who told me they now referred people to Healthy Darlington at the Dolphin Centre, so I made the step which I feel helped save my life and made a visit to them. My advisor there was Michael, young man who could not have been more helpful and understanding and my sense of trepidation at letting some else knowing how far I would need to go on my journey was soon dispelled. He let me know how I could still enjoy swimming the one activity I still enjoyed and showed me and my husband around the accessibility changing facilities. Also he gave me a free introductory 12 weeks referral to Slimming World. He advised that I try to reduce my alcohol intake as this would also help me on my journey to a fitter and healthier lifestyle. Thus I started out little knowing at that time that it was a journey which would help save my life. Michael has helped and supported me through this journey which he helped me start. I have slowly regained a bit more of my mobility, I only drink in moderation twice in the week, and following on from my introduction to Slimming World I am continuing my membership online. By Christmas I had lost 4 stone in weight and felt a lot happier with myself myself. By New Years Day things took a bad turn and even though I still have a way to go I am so pleased I started this journey. I was admitted to Darlington Memorial with pneumonia on 1st January, whilst there I became critically ill as a hernia became incarcerated and I needed emergency surgery. As the surgeon explained to us the risks of not surviving the operation due to the pneumonia and being morbidly obese I do remember thinking thank goodness that I had already lost 4 stones surely that must help. I know now that it did help and it also helped in my recovery and as I have slowly regained my strength, and mobility. This month I went back to Intensive care where I spent 2 weeks following my operation and Ward 32 where I was stayed until I came home on 28th January, to thank the staff I also called it to Health Darlington to see Michael and thank him, and let him know I was restarting my journey now I am recovered. All of these visits were very emotional to say thank you to people who along with my wonderful surgeon helped save my life and let me continue my journey. Sadly Michael and the team at Health Darlington will no longer be there to help and support myself and others starting on the journey.
Cut S09 (Obesity Management) The closure of The Hub, and loss of associated staff will have a direct negative impact on the physical and mental health of clients at Darlington Mind. We use the facilities regularly, and have an excellent working relationship with the staff there, nurtured over several years, which has had numerous benefits for our clients, including reduction of negative symptoms, improved wellbeing and confidence, better physical health any many more. I have also referred clients directly into the service at The Hub, and the loss to individuals and organisations such as ours will be immense.
Cut S05 (Public Mental Health) Cut S09 (Obesity Management) Cut S01 (Sexual Health services) Reductions to Sexual Health and Contraception - I am very concerned this will increase teenage pregnancy rate. In the past I was the lead for paediatrics for Darlington CCG. As a GP I have many teenagers who struggle to take the pill and need LARC. National guidelines say hormonal implant should be considered first line. If GP no longer will be fitting them this will negatively affect their use. I am also concerned that the proposed model will fragment the service. Any barriers will result in decrease uptake of contraception. Children should have a choice of how they can access contraception I cannot understand the concept of triaging sexual health screening to those most in need. Primary care is not funded to do sexual health screening (we were until our contracts changed). Women should have a choice of either Gum or GP for sexual health screening so we have good uptake Reductions to Public Mental Health - As a GP I am concerned that decreasing support to a vulnerable group may have a negative effect. Reductions to Obesity funding - I am extremely concerned regarding this proposal. There has been a lot of work done to address childhood obesity. Children will be identified as having problems with their BMI through the national measurement programme. Children age 5 have not made the lifestyle choices with calorie intake and the amount of exercise they take. They are unable to take themselves to a GP. To tackle children obesity we need programs that have an evidence base and are generally a combination of exercise and dietary advice. Even if a child is brought to a GP medicalising the issue has not been shown to be effective in tackling the issue. Failing to support children will cause increasing health problems for them in the future
Cut S09 (Obesity Management) Cut S10 (MARAC) Cut S08 (Public Health Other) Cut S07 (Sanctuary Scheme) Cut S01 (Sexual Health services) Reductions to Sexual Health and Contraception - Young people are the highest risk of STI’s Young people are the highest risk of pregnancy Young people are the most unlikely to access services Negative impact on 0-19 service and remaining service providers Sanctuary Scheme - Several of our most vulnerable families have worked with Sanctuary which has enabled them to remain in their homes. Disruption to family life Negative impact on emotional health and well-being Negative impact on schooling Negative impact on other services The health and well-being of children, young people and families is likely to be at risk of significant harm Public Health Other (S08)Home Improvement Agency - Significant impact on vulnerable families to fund own needs or go without. Reductions to Obesity funding - No services available to support obese children and families following NCMP screening. Proposals from DBC are unrealistic to vulnerable and hard to reach families Negative impact on 0-19 service to provide sustainable support. Negative impact on physical health of children, young people and families. Increased demand on remaining services. The future health and well-being of children and young people is likely to be at risk. Reductions to Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conference - Added pressures to other remaining services. Children, young people and families in Darlington are likely to be at greater risk of harm
Cut S05 (Public Mental Health) Cut S09 (Obesity Management) Cut S10 (MARAC) Cut S08 (Public Health Other) Cut S07 (Sanctuary Scheme) Cut S01 (Sexual Health services) For me as a GP all of the proposed public health reductions will have a negative impact

Go back to main list