A Derbyshire GP surgery which opposed a care home extension due to already stretched resources should receive £14,000 to help with its problems, according to the county’s NHS. G&K Property Development’s application for a 35-bed extension to Tynfield Court care home, next to the A50 south of Etwall, was granted permission by South Derbyshire District Council this week.
Wellbrook Medical Centre in Hilton had submitted a firm objection to the plans due to their inability to take on the extra patients “without significant additional resources”. It had said it would only gain £10 per month per patient to cater for the substantial needs of the extra care home residents and said it oversaw 154 care home beds – which would now increase to 189.
Councillors had expected the local NHS to request financial support to aid this stretched resource and told a meeting in April that they felt “betrayed” and “disappointed” that no request for funding was submitted to the authority. The integrated care board (ICB) had said the development was below the size of scheme which would warrant requesting NHS contributions.
Councillors deferred a decision to send a “strong message” to the ICB about the lack of contributions. Following the delay and further talks, the ICB asked for £14,000 “to be used at either Wellbrook Medical centre or any other practice providing care to the residents of the care home, to provide additional capacity which may be through the extension or reconfiguration of one or more at the existing site or at a new building”.
This week, in response, Cllr Andrew Kirke, a paramedic, said: “£14,000 would buy a couple of boxes of bandages – but what the hell.”
Last November, a new 66-bed care home was approved in Hatton with Dove River Practice, a GP surgery in Tutbury, Staffordshire, opposing the plans due to a lack of capacity. It resulted in £23,760 for healthcare improvements being directed at Wellbrook, which opposed this Etwall site.
In the April meeting, Cllr Kirke had said he understood the importance of providing further care for older people but said this ought not to come at the loss of a facility for children, with a former nursery to be demolished to make way for the scheme.
Cllr Kalila Storey said the care home was rated ‘Good’ by the CQC and said: “It is not a unique issue about GP shortage and of issues getting an appointment.” Cllr Jayne Davies, a health practitioner, had said the November approval of a 66-bed care home in Hatton and the proposed 35-bed extension in Etwall would put too much pressure on services.
She had said: “I am absolutely floored to hear the response from the ICB. Wellbrook cannot cope. We do need care homes but not at the loss of services for the community.” The Etwall scheme would provide 13 new jobs, increasing from 51 to 64, comprising 43 full-time roles and 21 part-time positions.
An extra 19 parking spaces would be provided, increasing from 40 to 59.