Fears over public health crisis risk

COUNCILLORS CALL FOR GOVERNMENT TO SCALE UP HEALTHY START SCHEME PAYMENTS IN LINE WITH RISING FOOD PRICES

- NICK JACKSON

HEALTH chiefs and politicians in Trafford are warning that the government risks a major 'public health crisis' unless a scheme to help struggling families is improved.

Trafford council leader Tom Ross, and Helen Gollins, Trafford council's director of public health, are now calling on the government to update the Healthy Start Scheme as soon as possible.

They have written a letter to the Department of Health and Social Care asking for Healthy Start payments to increase in line with rising food prices and to simplify the application process and make it more inclusive to increase uptake.

Coun Ross and Ms Gollins pointed to reports nationally of desperate parents watering down condensed milk and stealing baby formula to keep their new-born babies fed properly. Andrew Western, MP for Stretford and Urmston, is also supporting the campaign.