A petition calling on Lewisham Mayor Damien Egan to reconsider proposals to cut a further £642,000 from public health has passed 1,200 signatures.

The Lewisham Council proposals come after a reduction in government funding, with cuts mainly found across substance misuse services, grants for voluntary and community organisation, and staffing and commissioning arrangements.

The proposals come amid £20.1m worth of cuts planned for the council as it looks to cut £30m off its budget between 2019 and 2021 –  and does not include the £17.4m overspend the council reported in July.

Proposals include a £196,306 – or 2.6 per cent – cut to the “vital” health visiting service, a workforce of specialist community public health nurses who visit new families.

Public health services have already seen an £8.2 reduction since 2013, with the health visiting service already slashed by 16.4 per cent in 2016.

The Save Lewisham Hospital Campaign petition, which has reached 1,289 signatures, calls for the proposals to be reconsidered and asks Lewisham Council to join its campaign to oppose the “savage” cuts.

“These cuts in Lewisham will reduce vital health visitors and services to young children under five years, cut services to adults with substance misuse problems and cut preventive public health services to promote health and wellbeing for Lewisham residents,” Save Lewisham Hospital Campaign wrote in the petition.

“We need to see action being taken now, in unity with health campaigns and councils. If you feel the same way as us, sign this petition. This is a health emergency that cannot be ignored.”

Council staff and specialists had ranked services in terms of their highest impact on health when identifying what areas could be cut.

Further cuts are not ruled out –  with school nurses and stop smoking services next in line.

The public consultation on the proposals ended last week.