Doctors call on Birmingham City Council to reconsider £51m cuts

On Monday, the council set out its budget proposals and the savings it must make

More than a hundred doctors in Birmingham have written to the council to criticise its plans to cut £51m from children's services.

The local authority published draft budget documents on Monday indicating how it would respond after declaring itself effectively bankrupt.

In total, 109 doctors shared concern such a sum would be cut from funds meant for young people and families.

The council said it was "inevitable" services would change as a result.

The letter stated that years of austerity had increased "extreme child poverty" in the city.

"This has caused a surge in child mental health referrals, increased the number of children in care, and more children are suffering from ill health through preventable causes," the letter added.

The council said it was going through a "challenging period"

The letter continued: "Children's service directors have a legal obligation to provide services addressing education, wellbeing and safeguarding of all children in their council area.

"The threatened cuts will severely handicap our ability to keep children safe and well. As ever, the vulnerable and marginalised will be placed at the highest risk."

The outlook for children in the city was "poor" even before the proposed cuts which would condemn "our city's children, and our city, to a worse future", the letter stated.

While the doctors said they understood the difficult choices the council faced, they urged the authority to reconsider its plans.

The Labour-run authority was forced to issue a section 114 notice last year, effectively declaring itself bankrupt, after facing equal pay claims of up to £760m and an £80m overspend on an under-fire IT system, although those figures will continue to rise.

The council has been revealing details this week of cuts it must make after independent commissioners were brought in to help run it.In a statement in response to the letter, the council said it was going through a "challenging period" which it understood was "unsettling for many of our residents".

"As we review the saving proposals for the Children, Young People and Families directorate, it will be inevitable that services will need to be changed as a result, and this process allows us to continue making improvements to provide efficient services.

"We will do all we can to minimise the impact during this difficult time and continue to prioritise the services for the most vulnerable residents in the city."