Liverpool City Council awards transformational public health service contracts

LIVERPOOL City Council has been formally awarded 2 public health contracts that will support some of the City's most vulnerable groups.

The contracts, that total over £100m, will enhance services for children and young people aged from:- 0 to 19 year olds (or up to age 25 if they have special educational needs or disabilities or have left care), and will also provide an integrated drug and alcohol treatment and recovery service.

The award of the contracts was approved by the Council's Cabinet in November.

Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust, in partnership with Alder Hey Children's Hospital Trust, has been awarded the £61m five-year contact for the 0-19 Public Health Service that will deliver a seamless, integrated approach to care.

Co-located in the city's network of Family Hubs, the service will feature specialist roles in infant feeding, mental health, research, and safeguarding. Enhanced contact points for vulnerable children and families, coupled with a clear and robust offer for Schools, underline the Council's commitment to reducing health inequalities and improving outcomes.

The second contract, worth £45m over five-years has been awarded to Change Grow Live (CGL). This will be an all-age integrated drug and alcohol treatment and recovery service providing comprehensive that addresses both treatment and recovery. The new single-lead contractor model promises a visible, accessible, and inclusive service, tailored to meet the needs of people and their families.

The service will adopt a neighbourhood-model approach, delivering holistic care with a strong focus on recovery and social reintegration. A dedicated website will also offer information and guidance, ensuring ease of access for those that need it.

Both contracts underline the Council's commitment to tackling health inequalities through innovative, evidence-based approaches as set out in Pillar 4 of the Council Plan; Healthier Lives for Children and Adults; and will commence on:- 1 April 2025.

Councillor Harry Doyle, Liverpool City Council's Cabinet Member for Culture, Health and Wellbeing, said:- "These contracts represent a significant step forward in how we deliver vital public health services in Liverpool. By focusing on integration, early intervention, and inclusivity, we are ensuring that families, young people, and those affected by substance use have access to high-quality, effective support. This investment is about transforming lives, reducing inequalities, and building stronger, healthier communities across our City."

Professor Matthew Ashton, Director of Public Health for Liverpool, said:- "These contracts are a bold and necessary investment in the future health and wellbeing of our city. By integrating services and focusing on local needs, we are not only addressing immediate challenges but also laying the groundwork for sustainable, long term improvements. This approach reflects our commitment to reducing inequalities and providing the right support, in the right place, at the right time, for every resident who needs it."

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Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service attend over 17,000 deliberate fires since 2019

WHILE fire and rescue services across the UK attended fewer incidents in 2023, deliberate fires continue to waste valuable resources and put lives in danger.

Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service has attended over 30,000 incidents since 2019, with a number of these being deliberate fires, a new investigation has revealed.

Figures obtained by Public Interest Lawyers found that Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service has attended:- 31,181 primary and secondary fires over the past 5 years, with 55% of these being deliberate fires.

Primary fires are potentially more serious fires that cause harm to people or damage to property.

Secondary fires are generally small outdoor fires, not involving people or property and these include refuse fires, grassland fires and fires in derelict buildings or vehicles.

From:- 2019 to 2020, Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service attended 5,638 primary and secondary fires, which was the 2nd lowest number of fires over the past 5 years.

2 years later, the number of incidents increased to:- 6,920 despite restrictions and lockdowns during the height of the COVID19 Pandemic.

Over the past year, the service has experienced a drop in primary and secondary fires, with the total standing at 5,363 in 2023/24.

Fire Rescue Services (FRSs) attended 600,324 incidents in the year ending March 2024, a decrease of 3.6% compared with the previous year (622,659).

Of these incidents, there were 138,977 fires, which was a decrease of 22% compared with the previous year (178,867).

Despite this positive drop in fires across the UK, a worrying percentage of these incidents are deliberate fires, which can lead to injuries and fatalities.

Deliberately set fires are dangerous and are a criminal offence. They waste time, money and keep fire crews away from real emergencies.

These deliberately set fires commonly include:- bins, skips, fly tipped waste, derelict buildings, dry grass and heathland.

Victims of deliberate fires may lose all their property, be made homeless or be seriously injured.

Public Interest Lawyers also obtained figures on the number of injuries caused by deliberate fires across the UK.

According to Public Interest Lawyers there have been 63 deliberate fire injuries recorded by Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service since 2019, with the highest annual total coming in 2020/21, standing at 14.

Whilst the impact of lockdowns in 2021 will have depressed the number of deliberate cases, the figures show that not only is arson the leading single cause of the fire but highlight the extent to which the increasing threat of arson must be taken seriously.

Public Interest Lawyers said:- "The impact of arson isn't just financial; it can significantly affect a person's emotional well being and sense of security."

If you have any information about a crime, or any information including video footage about any suspected arson, you should report it to Crimestoppers UK online or call Crimestoppers:-0800555111. If possible use the free what3words app to report the exact location of the incident along with logging the date and times.