PUBLIC Health Dorset is preparing itself for a £2 million budget cut due to be implemented next year.

Earlier this year, the Government indicated it would cut £200 million from its grant to local authorities for public health service provision - including such services as school nursing, drug, alcohol and sexual health services, weight loss and smoking cessation services and support for victims of domestic abuse and people with mental health problems.

Bournemouth council will see its grant reduced by £627,000, Dorset County Council by £940,000 and Borough of Poole by £455,000 for the financial year 2015-16, if the plans go ahead.

Public Health Dorset manages the public health responsibilities of all three authorities. Director David Phillips said: "We are looking at the local implications of this reduction to the national public health grant and will be working to minimise the overall impact on the work taking place to improve health and wellbeing.

"Unfortunately, we live in a climate where there are unprecedented pressures on public sector funding, and we have to adjust to reductions in national funding.

"Despite this, we are committed to making sure our services are provided efficiently and effectively and will continue to work with partners to do our best to help improve health outcomes for local people."

The cut to public health budgets has been widely criticised, with the Royal College of Nurses among the organisations calling for the measure to be dropped in the Comprehensive Spending Review on November 25.

They argue that it will disproportionately affect poorer communities and lead to more people requiring NHS treatment.

The college's regional director for the south west, Jeannett Martin, said: "The Government cannot say they are protecting the budget for the NHS and at the same time make huge cuts to council-run health services which are there to keep people well and out of hospital.

"The NHS in the south west will end up paying for these savings many times over."

Other organisations calling for public health funding to be maintained include the Faculty of Public Health, the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, the British Dental Association and the NHS Confederation.