NHS Tayside not consulted over Scone housing

AFTER being slammed for not responding to healthcare fears about a housing project in Scone, it has been revealed NHS Tayside was never approached over the matter in the first place.

Perth and Kinross Council signed off on proposals for 42 homes in the first phase of the Scone North development at a meeting last week, but without input from NHS Tayside.

Elected members lambasted the health board for failing to state whether GP surgeries in the development’s catchment area had space for the influx of new patients.

It has been revealed NHS Tayside was never asked if officials thought the plans were suitable.

A spokesman said: “NHS Tayside was consulted during the development of the local delivery plan for Perth and Kinross in 2014, which includes details about proposed future development in North Scone. NHS Tayside was not consulted as part of the planning application approved at the recent Perth and Kinross Council’s planning and development management committee.

“NHS Tayside, in collaboration with Perth and Kinross Health and Social Care Partnership, will consider local development plans to inform future primary care premises and infrastructure requirements for the region.”

The issue has become more pertinent as 3,000 patients from Bridge of Earn look set to be offloaded into Perth practices following the village surgery’s closure.

Council committee convener Roz McCall said she would be writing to the health board.

A council spokesman said: “There is no statutory requirement for Perth and Kinross Council to consult with NHS Tayside on individual planning applications.”