CONSERVATIVE Party cuts to health services in Darlington are wrong, according to the town’s Tory leader.

Councillor Heather Scott says she will fully support a move to oppose government cuts to the Public Health Grant.

The veteran councillor strongly criticised a potential reduction of more than £500,000 for health services at a meeting of the town’s Health and Wellbeing Board last week.

She described the suggested 6.2 per cent reduction of the Public Health Grant as wrong and said it could have a disastrous effect on the area.

Her comments came as members of the board discussed sending a joint letter of objection to the Government.

Cllr Scott said: “I think it is wrong the way it is just a blanket cut across the country – there is no fairness in all of this.

“As a member of the Conservative Party, I am making my feelings known.

“There has to be some recognition of the disastrous effects it could have, especially in this part of the world.”

The letter of protest was suggested by Dr Andrea Jones, chair of Darlington CCG.

She said it was important to publicly state how significant the grant reduction would be for the community.

Dr Jones said: “I think it may be wasted breath but we need to express our disquiet and unhappiness and look at what we can do regionally as this is fundamentally a ticking time bomb for us.

“From a health perspective this will mean earlier deaths.”

A report from Darlington Borough Council’s last cabinet meeting said the proposed cut would “seriously affect the council’s ability to plan, manage and sustain public health services both in the short term and the future".

It said: “The cut to the public health grant is on top of already substantial cuts to the local authority’s budget.

“Given the scale of the cut proposed it is inevitable there will be an impact on the NHS and non-NHS front-line services and preventative programmes locally.”

The letter of objection is expected to be backed by parties including Miriam Davidson, Darlington Borough Council’s director for public health, councillors and representatives from Darlington CCG and other health-related organisations.