Sefton councillors to scrutinise proposed 70% cut to Macmillan support

The cuts to the local Macmillan Cancer network are to come before Sefton’s Adult Care and Heath Scrutiny Committee this Tuesday 

The service provides necessary, non-clinical support to patients with a cancer diagnosis. 

The local doctors’ committee ( Primary Care Network) despite the protests of many former and current patients have decided  to press on with the cuts which will result in a 70% cut and virtually destroy the current service.

Cllr. John Pugh (Liberal Democrat) has ensured that the issue will come before councillors and has obtained confirmation from the NHS that this local decision ought to be scrutinised by elected councillors. 

The news has been welcomed by Cllr. Mike Kirby (Kew Ward) , “Many residents and patients past and present have contacted me and other councillors protesting at the decision and wanting someone to do something- so this is a bit of welcome progress.”

“Sadly though," says Cllr.Pugh ,”local elected people have been denied any say in local NHS decision- making by successive governments. What we can do though is demand public justification and explanation and expose poor or ill-thought out NHS decisions. With the government reportedly not prioritising health spending in the budget, finances locally remain rocky and something, we’re told, has to give. The GPs want to channel available money into practice-based services rather than to an independent provider like Macmillan. That’s controversial, but it has to be publicly argued for. It should not be a 'GP only' discussion.”

Cllr Pugh has prompted the Macmillan Cancer Network to put their case along with the views of the GP-led Primary Care Network on Tuesday.  

"There are always serious debates to be had on the spending of taxpayer’s money", he says," but better this happens in public than behind closed doors."

The meeting will be live streamed.