Wealden District Council has approved a motion to make help make the case for improved medical services of the people of the Hailsham area in the light of the significant growth in the local population.
It agreed at a full council meeting last week (February 24) meeting of Full Council to continue to work with health representatives including GPs as part of the preparations for the new Local Plan to define the health needs of the area.
The motion also seeks to ensure that housing development in Hailsham and the surrounding area contributes to the provision of infrastructure through the Community Infrastructure Levy as agreed by the Council.
Council Leader Bob Standley, who proposes this motion said: “The last 12 months have made very clear the importance of health promotion not only in Hailsham but across the District.”
This motion put the emphasis in establishing health provision within the Wealden Local Plan, which he said, was where it belonged. The provision of new community hospitals was not currently in the NHS’s strategy.
The adopted motion was seconded by Councillor Ann Newton.
“Money has been put aside from the planning permissions granted for improved facilities for Hailsham. We will continue to work with our NHS partners to put provisions in place. These are likely to be delivered through the Hailsham Aspires project in tandem the Local Plan.”
The adopted motion amended an earlier motion, proposed by Councillor Gavin Blake-Coggins and seconded by Councillor Neil Cleaver. This called on the Council to use its resources to collect evidence to support the case for a community hospital for Hailsham.
Gerard Fox, East Sussex County Councillor for Hailsham told us: “I have always supported & continue to campaign for the expansion of medical facilities in the Town. The need for greater medical services in Hailsham is fully recognised & is not in dispute. The motion passed by Wealden District Conservative Group at Full Council today, which the Liberal Democrats declined to support, fully recognises that & gives direction to it.”
He added: “The manner in which health needs are met is a matter for the NHS, not primarily for the local authority. I think that Hailsham Liberal Democrats failed to fully take that on board in their original motion. They are also framing a healthcare solution without formal local consultation, the support of local healthcare professionals, or indeed consideration of other models.”
Pictured: Steve Murphy from the Hailsham Liberal Democrat Party who put the original proposals forward.
