Your article (London FGM clinic to close after funding cut, theguardian.com, 24 January) suggests that Ealing council made a decision to cease funding for the Acton African Well Woman Centre, which supports women who have undergone female genital mutilation (FGM). I wanted to write to set the record straight.
The council has never commissioned the Acton African Well Woman clinic. Since 2013, we have provided funding for an advocate to support women and families to access services for those who have been affected by FGM and to promote awareness in the community.
Funding for this post is in place to deliver this important work, and from April 2017 there will be greater emphasis on community work and development of community champions rather than one-to-one advocacy, so many more women and families can be supported to access all NHS FGM services in north-west London.
Ealing is strongly committed to supporting services for women who have undergone FGM, as well as working to reduce and prevent new occurrences among residents. That is why, despite the severe financial pressures local authorities are facing, we are making no reduction in the dedicated FGM community awareness service, which will continue to work with schools and community champions and refer women and families to the five FGM clinics available in north-west London.
Cllr Hitesh Tailor
Cabinet member for health and adults’ services, London Borough of Ealing
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