The local NHS, in conjunction with other stakeholders, plans, develops and improves services to local people. In addition, the Department provides guidance and support to encourage local NHS services to promote well-planned, healthy and sustainable communities.
The Minister knows about the genuine concern in south Worcestershire about the demand on our local infrastructure posed by the significant increase in housing numbers, planned under the regional spatial strategy—numbers that the Government want to increase still further. What reassurance can she give that the necessary increase in the area’s health service infrastructure will be in place before the houses are built to ensure that existing residents and newcomers have full and proper access to the NHS?
As the hon. Gentleman knows, the local health service will constantly be looking to ensure that it is planning for the population that it has and for expected population growth. However, there are further requirements on both local authorities and the NHS to work together through their local area agreement to ensure that any planned housing development includes the plans for any necessary health or social care. He will know that Worcestershire PCT has formally set up a committee to look into exactly what the future growth in housing in the area may be and, therefore, what any future demands may be, including the development or expansion of Evesham community hospital.
The Minister will know that the Government have overridden many of the housing targets set by local authorities for their areas. Therefore, there is a growing disparity between the increased number of houses being put into areas and the health provision that those areas are given. An example in my constituency is that we are expected to have 30,000 new houses in a single borough in the county of Shropshire, and yet the paediatric service is about to be downgraded. Is that joined-up government?
I say to the hon. Gentleman that the development of housing is intended to satisfy demands in the area. The gap between the current and future population is not always that great, but he is quite right; the work has been done on the local authority side, through the requirement both to plan for the health and well-being of their populations, acting in partnership with the local NHS to look at sustainable communities and take that forward. Of course, within that will be the development of new services for the current population as well. I assure the hon. Gentleman that there is no question of extra housing being put in place without consideration being given to the future demands for health and social care.