Council asked to reconsider planning decision due to virus emergency

New Care has resubmitted a previously ‘refused’ planning application for a 60-bed care facility in Wilmslow, Cheshire.

The application was refused planning permission in January 2020 by Cheshire East’s Northern Planning Committee after being deferred in December 2019 following a 4:4 vote with the chair abstaining to vote.

Despite having a strong recommendation for approval by Cheshire East Planning Authority, the application was refused for the second time and is currently also in the appeal system.

However, in light of the current and escalating healthcare crisis caused by coronavirus, and the ever-increasing demand on the NHS, New Care is now asking the council to reconsider and to grant consent at the earliest possible opportunity rather than waiting months for the appeal process to run its course so that this additional care facility can be delivered.

Cath Fairhurst, chief operating officer at New Care, said: “COVID-19 has put massive immediate pressure on the NHS, however the current situation has also highlighted the ongoing huge shortfall of beds in hospitals, many of which are in use by stable patients who have been medically discharged but require rehabilitation before returning home.

“There is, quite simply, nowhere for these patients to go, so they remain in hospital, blocking beds.

“As a registered nurse and in all my years of experience working in the health sector, we are navigating our way through unprecedented times. A fresh approach to the provision of care facilities and beds is needed now more than ever before.

“We have just finished build on a 71-bed care facility in Bramhall which has immediately been contracted in its entirety by the NHS.

“This care facility will now be used to free up hospital beds at Stepping Hill Hospital by providing a care pathway for medically stabilised patients, who would otherwise stay in hospital for prolonged periods.

“The contract with the NHS will not only assist with the current crisis, but when coronavirus is under control there will undoubtedly be a need for more care home beds to deal with the longer-term implications of the more vulnerable patients.

“Starting this week, Stepping Hill Hospital will facilitate the move of 71 patients, freeing up vital beds.

“It is in light of this and our continued commitment to working with, and helping the NHS, that we want to deliver our proposed care facility on Handforth Road as soon as possible, which will not only offer targeted residential, nursing and dementia care services for Wilmslow and the surrounding areas, but will no doubt also provide allocated beds to the NHS to use to ease pressure within local hospitals.”

To support its initial planning application, New Care commissioned an independent report with Caterwood, who offer advice in health and social care.

The report, which is standard within the industry, identified an overwhelming need for high-quality beds in Wilmslow, with Cheshire East’s Adult Social Care department in agreement with the findings and the following summary:

“The content and data provided to support the application is an accurate reflection of the current position within the identified catchment area. There is no evidence to make representation against the comprehensive, balanced needs analysis that has been provided. The assessment is fair, appropriate and has demonstrated examples throughout the needs analysis in relation to working collaboratively with the local authority and Local Clinical Commissioning Groups.”
Adult Social Care Department (Cheshire East) 13th January 2020

Despite the findings, Cheshire East’s Northern Planning Committee questioned the validity of the professionally-produced report.

However, New Care said it is certain that the COVID-19 outbreak will not only add further strain to the care system in Wilmslow in the coming months, as well as later in the year when annual Winter pressures emerge, but it will also ultimately expose the committee’s myth that there isn’t a care bed shortage in the locality.

Cath Fairhurst said: “When this planning application was refused at the start of the year, the committee cited many inaccurate reasons.

“In addition to questioning the validity of the Carterwood report, they also suggested that the care home would put pressure on the local GP practice, which is simply not the case.

“The vast majority of our residents are already registered with the local GP because they live close to the care home, often within three miles, and want to stay in their local community.

“Furthermore, our registered nurses and senior care staff have daily oversight of all our residents and we use technology to support virtual ward rounds and/or individual consultations, which optimises the GP’s time and reduces the risk of infection, such as COVID-19.

“We are also able to prevent unnecessary admissions to hospital and delayed discharge from hospital as we provide nursing care within our homes, with this is a significant help to both local GPs and hospitals.”

Local MP Esther McVey previously objected to this care facility.

New Care is now urging her to visit Bramhall Manor and to support its planning application for Wilmslow, not only on a local level but also due to national need in light of the pandemic. They contacted her to see if she intended to support the application, but said her office wasn’t available for comment.

With coronavirus yet to reach its peak in the UK, New Care said it is urging the council to grant planning consent sooner rather than later for this proposed state-of-the-art care facility on in Wilmslow.