Housing developers' cash boosts GP services for Bishop's Stortford

Money generated by conditions attached to planning permission for new homes in Bishop's Stortford is being ploughed into improving patients' care in the town.

The £90,000 secured by East Herts Council (EHC) will help pay for refurbishment of the Kitwood Unit at Herts and Essex Community Hospital in Haymeads Lane.

The improved premises will benefit two of the town's GP practices: Parsonage, which already operates from the site, and South Street Surgery.

New homes at Manor Links, near the golf club, have contributed £43,919.91 to the project with £46,281.41 arising from the Ashpoles flats development in Southmill Road.

A spokeswoman for NHS East and North Hertfordshire CCG (Clinical Commissioning Group) confirmed: "The Kitwood Unit at Herts and Essex Hospital is currently undergoing a major reconfiguration and improvement project which will benefit two Bishop's Stortford GP practices and improve the care that can be provided for their patients.

"Parsonage Surgery is already delivering services from the unit and, on completion of the project, their space will be bigger and better.

"South Street Surgery is also due to move some of their services into the space, with the project set to be complete by October 2022. This is a considerable NHS investment and Section 106 [cash] forms just a small part of the overall cost."

Church Street Surgery also operates some services from the hospital site as part of the Haymeads Health Centre.

EHC has appointed an officer to maximise the community benefits of planning conditions. Stortford's Cllr Alastair Ward-Booth, who represents Silverleys ward on the district council and is also Herts county councillor for the Bishop's Stortford West division, said: "The decision of East Herts to appoint a full-time dedicated section 106 officer is bearing fruit."