Labour Councillors have reacted angrily to the news that there will be no extra money for Bedford Borough’s Public Health team next year.
Labour Councillors have criticised the government by saying that: “After a year of tackling a pandemic which has exposed and exacerbated the health inequalities caused by a decade of austerity and a diminished public health system, the Tory Government has signalled that Public Health will receive a below-inflation increase of 0.7%, which is in effect, a real-terms cut.
“After a year of waste, dither and delay resulting in 126,000 deaths so far, the impact of Covid-19 will likely be felt for decades, and a range of locally driven Public Health initiatives will be needed to tackle not only the aftermath of the pandemic, but the inequalities that have been highlighted by it.”
Portfolio Holder for Public Health & Wellbeing, Councillor Louise Jackson said: “Our officers have been working flat out with businesses, schools and communities to contain outbreaks and respond to the multitude of challenges that this pandemic has thrown their way.
“It is the local teams that have often found themselves picking up the pieces when the Government’s dubious policy choices have resulted in rising infection rates.”
“It is our team right here in Bedford Borough that is making a real difference with tracing contacts, and helping people not only to isolate but to access money, food and medical supplies when they need it. It is the local teams that are engaging with hard to reach groups and trying to drive up vaccination rates.”
“Throughout the last 12 months we have seen all to clearly how locally driven Public health responses are the ones that matter, and for that not to be recognised in this funding announcement is not only an insult to local authority Public Health teams up and down the country, but will prevent us from tackling the issues that we really need to address”.
Bedford Borough Labour Group Leader Sue Oliver added: “This Tory Government has totally failed to acknowledge how crucial the work and expertise of our Public Health Officers has been throughout the pandemic.
“Their refusal to give them sufficient resources to meet the immense challenges we now face, is a disgrace on a par with their insulting 1% pay offer to NHS workers.”
Cllr Graeme Coombes, leader of the Conservative group on the Borough council responded: “Labour are trying to manufacture a problem that doesn’t exist.
“The Government has supported Bedford Council with millions of pounds of public money during the current health pandemic and the Borough is now being given nearly £100k in extra public health funding for 2021/22 taking the total grant from Central Government to £8.9m.
“It fully recognises the key role of Local Councils in delivering public health services locally and the high priority we place on good public health.
“This is over and above additional money that has been given by Government for the Council to address health related matters such as £450k to protect vulnerable adults, £222k to help rough sleepers with drug and alcohol dependency issues, and a £310k Workforce Capacity Fund for Adult Social Care.
“The Government is also funding a truly astonishing programme of mass vaccination in Bedford Borough and across the country.
“It is now up to Bedford’s Labour/LibDem run Council to spend this public money wisely, to recognise the importance of ensuring a fit and healthy population and to deliver public health services that actively and continually promote the health and well-being of Bedford Borough residents.”
