Local residents who are registered as patients at the two GP Practices in Sheen Lane
Health Centre will no doubt be interested to read what is provided for by the Council and developers proposals for medical services in the area.

The S106 agreement disclosed to the public on Friday on the Planning Inspectorate website states that the practices ‘do not have the capacity to absorb the additional demand generated by the proposed development’.

It goes on; ‘Consideration will need to be given to the configuration of the current building and
digital solutions to manage access for an increased number of patients, which will require capital investment’.

An amount of £625,055 is provided to the local Integrated Care Board, (an NHS organisation that plans health services for a local population) which it is calculated could be used to increase the necessary capacity and mitigate the impact of the development. A number of questions arise. Is it anything like adequate? Can mere money have a real impact? Would money be ring-fenced? Who will take decisions about the use of the funds, given that the ICB representation is not local?

Or is this yet another area of major impact on the local community where it is accepted adequate capacity is not available, where little or no consideration has been or will be given to the consequences for residents or to their views now or in the future.