Dear colleagues,

I am writing to ask for your support. A band 5 physiologist post has been earmarked for the 5% divisional cuts which threatens the very existence of the Children's Respiratory Sleep Service in Southampton.  We recently also lost a vital band 6 post and a further blow comes from the absence of our administrative support and another key physiologist who is on maternity leave. If the band 5 post is removed, it would effectively cut our service in half, forcing us to close it to new referrals. This would have dire consequences for families and children who rely on our services for critical needs such as neonatal oxygen weaning, pre-operative evaluations (including spinal surgery), growth hormone surveillance, obesity screening and obstructive sleep apnoea diagnoses, among others.

Losing these services not only impacts family lives but also strains regional healthcare resources. Without local options, families will be compelled to travel extensive distances, perhaps as far as London, to access essential sleep healthcare services for their children. This is not merely an inconvenience; it's a heavy financial and emotional burden for countless families in our community.

It's crucial to recognize the impact of these potential cuts on the well-being and retention of our remaining dedicated staff. Overwhelmed and unsupported, their ability to continue their essential work is compromised, risking further attrition in an already stretched NHS staff pool. 

Please join us in fighting against these cuts and protect this irreplaceable service for the children and families of Southampton and its surrounding areas. Sign this petition to send a clear message that not only will your service be affected by these cuts, but also that our community values and demands comprehensive, locally accessible healthcare for its youngest members.