PROPOSED cuts to public health will hit the most vulnerable in the Winchester district, a meeting heard.

Cllr John Tippett-Cooper raised the issue of the proposed £2 million cuts by Hampshire County Council to services including health visiting, school nursing and also the substance misuse hub in Winchester.

Cllr Tippett-Cooper told full Council that the hub was "a vital service that supports some of the most vulnerable in our district and is the only hub in Hampshire being targeted for closure.

"Winchester City Council have worked tirelessly to support vulnerable people with addictions into housing over the last year and, amongst other things, closing this hub is likely to make it harder to

support people to retain that housing."

He called on the city council to urge the county council to review its decision to cut this service and recognise that the savings will be outweighed by the social costs.

Cllr Kelsie Learney, cabinet member for housing and asset management, said: “The Hampshire County Council proposal to close the substance misuse treatment centre in Winchester is based on having the second lowest number of clients accessing the treatment centre (276) with the lowest numbers in Andover (215).

"The suggestion is to replace the treatment centre in Winchester with smaller satellite clinics and drop-in services based within local venues and established homelessness premises. The voluntary homelessness sector in Winchester have for some time successfully introduced satellite health services and outreach work within their premises. And so it is conceivable that the proposed satellite substance misuse treatment clinics based in similar venues may be an effective option for engagement with homeless clients, especially those rough sleeping.

"However, substance misuse is not just faced by homeless people it also affects many other households including council tenants who may not wish to access treatment this way. It is unlikely as HCC suggest that Winchester residents will travel to the next local treatment centre in Eastleigh. It will instead be a barrier for vulnerable Winchester residents seeking support with substance misuse issues, putting them at greater risk.

"There is no doubt that the suggested HCC commissioning and public health budget cuts will make it harder to sustain council tenancies, prevent homelessness and to support people out of rough sleeping. Making action to tackle health inequalities amongst the most vulnerable and disadvantaged in our communities that much harder. I can assure that feedback to this effect will be provided to Hampshire County Council as part of the consultation process.”

The Chronicle reported strong criticism of the proposals from the Institute of Health Visiting and the School and Public Health Nurses Association.