Concerns are growing over 'devastating' proposed cuts to frontline nursing services that support children and families.
Suffolk County Council is considering changes to its health visiting service, which could see up to 50 NHS community staff nurses made redundant.
The health visiting service provides support from pregnancy until a child turns five, including health and development checks, home visits, and advice on feeding, sleep, and parental wellbeing.
Colin Kreidewolf, Labour councillor for Westgate said: "It is clear from the proposals that this is a cost saving exercise.
"Reform are disguising cuts as prioritising specialist staff.
"Stopping the Family Nurse Partnership takes away the home visits young parents rely on.
"Moving school nurses to a digital-first, term-time only service risks isolating vulnerable young people who need to be seen, not signposted."
Suffolk county councillor Bobby Bennett, said: "There are strong concerns, which I share, about the proposed cuts to the frontline nursing team.
"When we controlled the council, we resisted precisely these changes because of the stark impact they’d have on parents, children and families.
"Any change needs to be evidence led.
"We can’t slash vital support just to get a cheap headline about savings – there are far more innovative ways to save money.
"I’m equally concerned by the rumour staff have been told not to speak out about these cuts.
"Gagging the people who deliver the service speaks volumes about these Reform UK proposals."
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The council previously said the review was necessary due to rising demand and insufficient funding, which has left the current service model unsustainable.
A spokesman said: "We believe we need to reshape the service so it remains sustainable and can focus on its core purpose of prevention, early intervention and supporting those with the greatest need."
However, a community staff nurse working in Suffolk’s health visiting service, who wished to remain anonymous, warned that cutting staff nurse roles would harm families.
She said: "The needs of children and families do not disappear when the staff nurse role is removed.
"If clinical work is transferred to health visitors, this inevitably changes the skill mix and places additional pressure on their capacity.
"I am particularly concerned about children with emerging developmental difficulties, potential SEND needs or other additional needs. And maternal mental health.
"Removing staff nurses does not remove the needs of children and families.
"It only changes where those needs have to be met."
Councillors and campaigners are also raising concerns about the impact of the cuts.
Frank Stennett, a west Suffolk councillor, said: "I am worried that there's a risk that Suffolk County Council's proposed policies, practices, and decisions based on qualitative insights drawn from a small datasets which lacks statistical significance could lead to unlawful discrimination and services changes that will affect my ward and the most vulnerable in society, namely our children."
The consultation is open until October 18, and the council says no final decisions have been made.
A petition calling on Suffolk County Council to abandon the proposal has gathered gathered more than 2,300 signatures.
The council said staffing changes would be subject to a separate formal process if the service changes are approved.
Suffolk County Council were contacted for an updated comment.
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