PUBLIC health nursing in Gloucestershire could be merged into one larger “streamlined” and simplified service.

Currently public health nursing is being run as two separate services, which are generally known as health visiting and school nursing.

Gloucestershire County Council (GCC) is now proposing to bring them together into one service to “combine skills and knowledge”.

These plans are going to the council’s cabinet on December 14, to agree a way forward.

The proposed changes comes as the draft budget for the 2017/18 year sets out pumping a lot more money into the current service.

This would see £1.7 million redirected from other parts of the Public Health budget into providing support for children aged 0-19, including health visiting and school nursing.

However, it comes at the expense of all other areas of the Public Health budget, which is being cut overall by 2.47 per cent – or £630,000.

If agreed, Shire Hall says new service would be better aligned to the health and wellbeing needs of children, at the ages that are important to their development.

It would focus on children aged up to three, primary school children between four and 11, and secondary children between 12 and 19.

Council bosses say the changes will mean the service will still be available for everyone and that staff with specialist knowledge and skills can focus support on the most vulnerable families, when they need it most.

GCC will ask families and children what they think of the new approach during 2017.

Andrew Gravells, Conservative cabinet member for public health and communities, said: “Raising a family can be tough and the council wants to provide the support to ensure that all families get the help they need to give our children the best possible start in life.

“If we get the policies right for protecting the most vulnerable, people will flourish so bringing together these two services into one streamlined service, combining skills and knowledge, will support more families, protecting the most vulnerable.”

Brian Oosthuysen, councillor for Rodborough and Labour’s public health spokesperson, welcomed the idea.

"In principle I am in favour of this as it brings together and simplifies the service whilst acknowledging the role of the NHS in delivering healthcare,” he said.

“Getting consistent and quality healthcare right from the start of life is crucial to making sure that a child has the best start in life.

“If this policy delivers this then I will be more than happy.

“It looks to me like the Public Health team have got a good idea here, but let's see what the families who use it say."

The proposals will include streamlining back office systems, so that staff can focus on working with families and children.

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Under the current proposals, the budget for a joined-up health visiting and school nursing service would increase by 20 per cent.

However, it comes at the expense of all other areas of the Public Health budget, which is being cut overall by 2.47 per cent – or £630,000.

This sees services for Sexual Health, Public Mental Health and NHS Health Checks all slashed.

Services for helping those with drug and alcohol problems will all see their budgets cut by over £1 million, a reduction of 16 per cent in one year.

Shire Hall say this redesign of services aims for “long term investment in prevention”.

The proposed budget for 2017/18 would be £ 24.9 million – down from £25.5 million.

Click here to read more about GCC's draft budget, which was revealed earlier this week.