Doctors warn council cuts will 'decimate' children's services in Birmingham
More than 100 paediatricians have signed a letter to council leaders.
A group of doctors has warned huge cuts to children's services in Birmingham will put the city's most vulnerable young people at even higher risk.
More than 100 paediatricians have put their names to a letter to Birmingham City Council, raising concerns about it's plans to axe £51m from services for children and young people.
Last week, the authority set out budget proposals to address its financial position after effectively declaring bankruptcy last September.
The measures aim to save £300m over the next two financial years. Leaders said it will be "inevitable that services will need to be changed as a result."
The letter to council leaders states how years of cutbacks to services has seen child poverty increase in the city, with more children suffering poor mental health and ill health through "preventable causes".
It added the proposed cuts to children's services will "severely handicap our ability to keep children safe and well".
"Massive increase in children's mental health problems"
Dr Sophie Carter, a consultant paediatrician who works in the city's children's centres, is among those to sign the letter.
Speaking to us, she said: "Birmingham is a city with a high proportion of young people, and also a high proportion in poverty and needing extra support.
"We're also aware of children with significant additional needs, and very vulnerable children because of that poverty, and we feel that they are going to be the most affected, and have the least voice.
"Being able to attend a youth centre or after-school activities makes a real difference for those children, and we're worried that those things will completely disappear and that will compound children's needs or families' ability to cope with those additional needs. It will just have a massive impact."
Dr Carter continued: "There's been a massive increase in children's mental health problems that we feel needs to be properly addressed. And that's about good things out there in the community to do, and again the cuts are going to really affect those kind of opportunities that are available."
The letter has urged the city council to reconsider the proposed cuts. Dr Carter added: "We want to ask the city council is this the right thing to do? Have you really thought through the impact these cuts are going to have?
"We want to be a voice for children because we recognise the massive impact it will have, so we want people to stop and think because it feels like children is the city don't necessarily have a choice."
Which children's services will be affected?
As set out in the council's draft budget proposals, the suggested savings in Children, Young people and Families services include:
• Cuts to careers, NEET and youth services, with £1m fund identified to be spent on you services once full review carried out - £1.263m
• Early Help Contracts for Children, Young People and Families - £8.378m
*• Children's Travel Transport Contracts Reprocurement - £13.700m
• Review of non-statutory transport packages for post-16 - £7.066m
• Reduction of contract sum for Birmingham Children's Trust - £9.000m
• Headcount reductions in Children and Families - £2.474m
'Inevitable' changes
Setting out the proposed spending cuts last week, Council Leader John Cotton, said: "I want to apologise unreservedly for the significant spending reductions and this year's substantial council tax increase.
"We have no alternative but to face these challenges head on.
"We'll do whatever is absolutely necessary to put this council back onto a stable and sound financial footing."
A further statement added: "We will do all we can to minimise the impact during this difficult time and continue to prioritise the services for the most vulnerable residents in the city."