NHS England Response to Parish Council

NHS ENGLAND RESPOND

As reported on AOL on 6th September 2017 Audlem Parish Council wrote to NHS England about their failure to respond to planning applications when they are a statutory consultee. Councillors also referred to the apparent lack of a coherent policy within NHS England to support Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) and medical practices in obtaining developer contributions towards infrastructure improvements to support current high levels of development.

Councillors received a response dated 13th September which explains that
"With effect from 1 April 2016, NHS South Cheshire CCG acquired fully delegated commissioning responsibilities for primary medical care services under arrangements set out nationally by NHS England. This means that they have local responsibility for the planning and delivery of primary medical care services including estates infrastructure within their area.

On 12th July 2016 NHS England confirmed the above arrangement to the Principal Planning Officer within Cheshire East Council and indicated that any premises infrastructure developments should be discussed with the local CCG."
NHS England also provided further information on how medical infrastructure was supported by both NHS England and the CCGs.

Councillors were very surprised to learn that Cheshire East had apparently not noted the new arrangements and had continued to consult with NHS England who had obviously not responded to consultation as the responsibility for infrastructure no longer rests with them. Councillors were also dismayed to learn that Cheshire East had cited lack of policies in NHS England as a reason for not supporting a S106 request put in by South Cheshire CCG on behalf of Audlem's Medical Practice.

The Parish Council has now sent letters to Cheshire East's Planning Department asking for confirmation that these changes were now understood and would be acted upon. Councillors have also requested our Ward Councillor, Rachel Bailey, to look into how this apparent oversight could have occurred.

Click on the PDF File to see the detailed response from the NHS

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