NHS was not consulted over Scone housing

Healthcare fears had been raised over influx of people

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 on Wednesday morning 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 spokesperson 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 this week.

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

Councillor Eric Drysdale, who sits on both the planning and development management committee and integration joint board, said: “Members of the planning and development management committee were under the impression that NHS Tayside are consulted on major planning applications and obviously Scone North is absolutely a major application.

“I am making inquiries and seeking clarification from council officers on what consultation was conducted.

“If it is the case that NHS Tayside are not typically consulted for major applications – and this application – that would be a concern for me.

“Things have moved on since the LDP in 2014 and only contacting NHS Tayside then is nowhere near enough.”

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

“As such, no consultation was issued to NHS Tayside in relation to the planning application... for the erection of 42 houses in Scone North.

“We apologise if there was any confusion at the committee, which led to an impression that NHS Tayside had not responded to a consultation on this application, as this was not the case.”

There is no statutory requirement for Perth and Kinross Council to consult with NHS Tayside on individual planning applications. COUNCIL SPOKESPERSON