The Leader of Hertsmere Borough Council (HBC) has expressed his frustration with the local NHS board after they allegedly failed to take up council plans to increase provision.
In a letter to the Secretary of State for Health Wes Streeting MP, councillor Jeremy Newmark argued that HBC had offered “practical, cost-free” options, including a new medical centre in Shenley, only to be rejected by the local NHS Integrated Care Board (ICB). He urged Mr Streeting MP to intervene and ensure that local NHS leaders seized the opportunity.
Cllr Newmark wrote: “We’ve been doing everything we can, despite having no formal responsibility for NHS provision. The real frustration is that we’ve put practical, cost-free options on the table — and they’ve been turned down.”
The Shenley proposal saw developers agree to provide land and construct medical centres at “peppercorn rent”, while HBC would fund the fit-out of the buildings.
Hertsmere faces a shortage of GPs, offering 0.56 GPs per 1,000 residents compared to the South West Herts average of 0.64 GPs per 1,000 residents. Given the borough’s target to deliver 1,000 new homes per year, cllr Newmark argued that local NHS infrastructure must expand to maintain pace.
A spokesperson for Hertfordshire and West Essex ICB said: “Hertfordshire and West Essex ICB is committed to working positively with HBC to forward plan primary healthcare such as GP services to support new housing developments, including those in Shenley.
“As part of this we also need to consider how any additional services would be funded. Our conversations with the council are ongoing and the ICB is in the process of providing a response in relation to the Shenley application that is due to be considered by the council’s Planning Committee later this month.”
Photo credit: Jeremy Newmark
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