Blears delay could kill off London plan for super-surgeries

Communities Secretary Hazel Blears has delayed planning permission for the £20 million White City health centre. Experts today claimed the move could spell the end for Health Minister Lord Darzi's vision for London healthcare, which relied on huge clinics housing dozens of GPs being built.

It would have held 12 GP rooms, three dental surgeries, two chiropody suites, a day surgery and district nurse and health visitor rooms.

However, Ms Blears argues that the development should include more socially rented homes, although the area already has more than 46 per cent, far above the London average.

Hammersmith & Fulham council today accused the Government of failing to consider the needs of local people. "It is absolutely outrageous that the Government is playing politics with the health of people in one of the most deprived areas of the borough," said council leader Stephen Greenalgh.

"It is wholly inappropriate given that these plans had been approved by the GLA, and by the Secretary of State once before. The plans were called in to be looked at again and we just do not understand why. There is now a danger the entire project could stall."

A spokesman for Ms Blears's department said: "The application is effectively now on hold while the issues are looked at. If we decide an inquiry is needed, a planning inspector will look at the case, and a final decision will be taken by ministers."

Mr Greenhalgh said: "When the Secretary of State originally approved this scheme last year there was a recognition that White City already has very high percentages of social homes for rent and that adding more would not help create a more mixed and balanced community.

"We support the need to build some social rented housing in more appropriate parts of the borough but what this ward needs is the new health centre. White City is one of the most deprived areas in Britain, with some of the worst health inequalities in the country."

Experts today said the move could finally kill off the idea of huge supersurgeries for the capital.

"This could be the final nail in the coffin for Lord Darzi's grandiose plans for London healthcare," said Richard Hoey, deputy editor of medical magazine Pulse.

"Doctors and patients alike have been concerned over these plans for supersurgeries, and this could finally mean the end for them. But hopefully it could see a return to more grassroots investments, which could have far more benefit for local communities."

The White City centre is the last of the planned large single building polyclinics that could still go ahead.

London's first dedicated polyclinic opened in Redbridge this month but it was a scaled-down centre arranged around a central hub, comprising several linked buildings.